Deeper than the Surface

As you'll see, it shows I didn't post yesterday. Not true! It was private :) On a separate note, I have really been enjoying my Kindle 3. I finally figured out how to take off my awesome cover yesterday, and actually realized that YES, what that one author was saying about using it without the cover sometimes is actually not a bad idea given how easy it is to take on and off now. Now I wish I could have shown my parents the "ACTUAL" weight of the thing. It's super light weight.

I still put it back in immediately after reading when I'm at home with it. Yesterday I took the night off from the gym or yoga. I wanted to go to Yoga badly, but Jim was working the 12-9 shift and I couldn't leave Amber alone for 4 hours - that felt a little too long. So I went ahead and tossed her into the little travel kennel and took her with me on the road to my chiropractic appointment. She will be experiencing trips in the car whenever I feel like it, because that way by the time she is old enough to take places, she'll be broken in to the car rides - as well as making it easier for me while the weather is still cool but not freezing - cause me to relax about how she is doing if I *am* taking trips, not having to leave her alone nearly as long. Just while she's still so tiny.

She whimpered a bit for the trip out to South Renton, but I found she was totally quiet and great for the trip home. Perhaps she's beginning to adjust to the idea that it's not so bad in the crate. Or she got exhausted. I had went in to the dollar store really quickly to grab some puppy pads to try for her puppy pen (maybe it will be easier than newspaper?) I might switch back and forth - and also to grab some puppy blankets. It's always a good place to get puppy blankets. ;)

Then I came home, decided to do something unheard of for me lately: READ without working out!!! haha.
Amber, Fritz, and I cuddled on the couch. I also took a nap :P This seldom happens anymore, especially since I've been supplementing. But I have to admit, this daylight savings cycle always messes with me, and Amber has been waking us from time to time in the middle of the night. Not so bad though!
Before I knew it, Jim came home. BAM.

:)

He is off today, which is great. He can take care of Amber all day, and I can even go to Yoga tonight. After that, I can spoil the dog. It does make it easier with Jim helping. I'm not entirely trapped at home unless something like the night shift happens. So far things aren't as intimidating as I thought they might be. Even her chewing on stuff isn't really bugging me ;) She hasn't gotten into much on my watch... I think it is because I must have acquired some "puppy raising" 6th sense by now. I assumed I hadn't. But I think after having another puppy in tow, it's clear that it feels easier this time around, for whatever reason so far. (Fingers crossed I continue to feel that way). It is amusing to watch Jim's surprise at each puppy behavior exposure. He is learning fast that there ARE certain things that happen when you have a puppy. It is NOT the same as having a dog.

Tomorrow, I can circuit train and make my workouts still on par and not even leave Amber at all.
So far she has adjusted very quickly. Fritz accepts her, plays with her often - but is not ready to snuggle or sleep with her. He pretty much goes to the opposite side of the bed, snuggles with me, while it seems Amber snuggles with Jim. Fortunately Jim is a lighter sleeper than I am, because he typically wakes up when she gets restless and we put her immediately into the puppy pen. And she goes right away.

I am pretty sure if this were just up to me, just like when Rufus was tiny, I would sleep through the puppy commotion. Mom can probably remember this too well. Jim, however... is more like Mom in his sleeping tendencies. He is easily waked. This works great. I don't mind getting up and moving or taking the dog where she needs to go, I just can't help that my sleeping habits are pretty much *rocklike*.

To stir me, is to basically SAY something verbally (as being touched freaks me out quickly - because it will take twice as much movement as it would verbalness). I will wake immediately with a word, but if you try and shake me, I assure you, it takes a lot. And by the time you DO wake me, you're moving me a lot and I'm liable to think you're fair game for assault.... :( Sorry!

As a rule, the only place I tend to try and wake people physically (by touch) is from the shin down. (grab an akle or a foot, this is not likely to get you assaulted accidentally). Something about people touching the upper body of sleeping people is startling and a "rude" awakening, in more ways than one. YES, I just made this post about how to wake people safely. And in my household, if you wake either of us from the torso up, you might very well regret it...

ANYWAY, digression. I'm getting the vibe and sense it will be easier once she gets bigger a little, so we can take her outside and all that. I am optimistic that we can make her a record breaking house-broken Dachshund. Really cool bit of news: JIM HAS this weekend off. That's amazing...
I wonder if he would like to go up North and try and find some floor places, maybe my parents have some ideas of places in person? I know my mom mentioned Empire Carpets, but yeah. Not sure. Who knows. That's sort of in the back of my mind, and doesn't have to be any time soon I guess. Still got it on my mind though. :)

It is very fun to watch Jim's delight in the puppyhood. While he needs some minor coaching with things, I suspect he will pick it all up rather quick and before he knows it, he will have a full grown, fully bonded Dachshund that he got to be a part of in the bonding. It is the one piece of the puzzle he never got to understand about Fritzel.

:)
And perhaps he will be a lot grateful for how Fritz HAS mellowed, aged, and been trained. Fritz is a pretty good dog. I almost feel like Amber will be a LOT easier. She is already really, REALLY into chewing bones. I don't remember Fritz showing the kind of interest that this dog shows. I will have to ask Mom (if she doesn't read this and respond) if Fritz was into bones a puppy. Amber will chew and chew and chew if she has the chance. That could be refreshing. I might have a dog who actually has good dental health!!! And is fun to buy chewie things for...

-Angela

Excitingly, I have a 9AM appointment tomorrow to do my taxes. Today, I would have done them at 10, except my 11AM appointment to get waxed conflicted. I've got to say, this woman I see now is one of the best people I've seen for this. Ever. She did a maintenance wax in around 20-25 minutes. This is nothing short of amazing.

I started seeing her with a living social special. But successfully for her, I've chosen to keep seeing her. She's in Bothell - but, it is well worth the drive.

Today, later - we walked Fritz and Jim helped me start cleaning my closet. This means I now need to help him with his mancave soon, because I was able to clear out my entire closet, which I had already done to the 60% point, but the other 40% I finished today. This is probably going to revolutionize my laundry and clothing habits.

This is nothing short of a HUGE deal, something I've been dreaming of since I moved in here. I will finally have peace as I search for all kinds of clothes: Work out gear, everyday wear, my shoes will be all upstairs and out of the way - it looks like I am finally using the closet the way a walk in closet is designed to be used. I'm ecstatic.

I will actually be able to find everything, and it will (already is starting to shape up) to how I'd always dreamed of having a closet. I will go to the dollar store soon to buy boxes so that I can stow my sports'bras in, without having them go all over. I have all my shoes lined up in closet, happily found that one pair of dressier shoes, my orthodics fit into. Which means I can wear them and still heal from the PF. My foot doc did some major adjustment on my orthodics and now they no longer bother my knees, and feel better on the arch. As to whether or not they will still blister me when I run - I certainly hope not. But first I have to heal from the first blister (BLAH, waiting.)

Good thing I can go to the gym and hit the elliptical trainer and do just as much good as outside - if not better for reasons like more resistance and also studying the Russian.

I have now begun wearing a pedometer for fun. I will post more about that later.
I want to go to the dollar store, but Jim is playing a batman video game. I could go alone, but somehow I think it would be fun for him to browse the dollar store. The man is a tight wad - it's sort of like candyland for tight wads. I mean - at least that's why I like it. ;)

-Angela


30 day challenge, Day 4

Powering through week, getting lots done. Today, I had fun checking all of my "deal" websites for unused vouchers. I tend to procrastinate on certain vouchers (for instance, getting my car detailed). I went through November sort of buying some great deals on LivingSocial, Groupon, and Tippr.

I have FINALLY made an appointment for one of my 2 car detailing vouchers. It will happen in just over a week, and I'm SOOOOO THRILLED! (Actually, Saturday March 12th) Classy is going to be clean and tidy inside. I am taking EVERYTHING out of the trunk, as well as inside, so that it can be as if I was driving it off a used car lot after it had been spiffed to try and trick you into thinking that a used car is really not that used ;)

Classy used to be brand new, but she has earned the title of "used," through all 85,000 miles that I've put on her. And as a tribute to paying her off, I had purchased the detailing voucher. I kept procrastinating on calling.

I have been using some of the other vouchers. Today I purchased the 2 fandango tickets for $9. Trying to get Jim to purchase one today also - so we can see movies on the cheap. I know we'll want to go to one eventually. And in a few short minutes, I will go take a quick run in the rain. It is obviously not as cold as it has been lately, so this I am grateful for. Hopefully it goes quick. After that, it sounds like Jim is in the mood for some "consumer whoring." He wants to go to Fry's and shop for stuff. I'm not sure what brought this on, but he will be looking at external drives, video cards, and possibly a netbook.

I'd like him to get a netbook so he could browse stuff (videos and facebook are his addiction when he is not gaming, and I have to admit I got him addicted to facebook, and now I hardly browse on it that often). And be in the same room as me. Who knows what he'll walk away with. But it's rare that he gets in a "Let's buy shit," mood, given his squeaky tendency regarding the cash monies. I also think we will check out laminate flooring at the home improvement store near Fry's. Or something. I've confirmed he is interested in replacing the bottom floor carpet (which is about half of our downstairs, which is about 1/6th of our entire house).

We'll see. I really want to do it. I think it would force us to fix our living room to be shiny and clean, and be a whole new look to the house. It does sound a lot more entertaining that simply going home and watchin' videos, so I'm a little excited. What else? It's the end of my workday, and it's time to hit the ground running and get that workout over with! I was proud that while I worked until just after 9:30 last night (when I started around 7:30) I still managed to circuit train. I was tempted to just go to bed and make that "day off #2" which is all I allow myself, but then I couldn't ditch Friday or Saturday. I'm confused because I accidentally switched my workout tracking Mon-Mon... and it has always been Sun-Sun. So I guess I may switch back to Sun-Sun. I've done that tracking since like 2007, so it hurts my brain to switch to Mon-Mon. I realize all of that is very confusing. Nevermind.

Also excited that my friend from Australia is coming to visit Seattle at the end of this MONTH! w00hoo!!

That was totally random.

-Angela

30 day Challenge, Day 2.

I haven't posted since last week!!!!
So here goes.

The weekend went at a nice pace. Not too fast, not too slow. Not too busy, not too dull.
Enough stuff, enough cleaning, made some headway with my house. Happy about that.
I walk around and it feels lived in, but not overtly cluttered. Lived in; I can deal. Cluttered EVERYWHERE, I begin to exhibit irritation at the universe. Chaos doesn't suit my mentality for a neutral head space, honestly.

Rufus had digestive issues all weekend long – that was no fun.
He seems to finally be getting through it.
Thank goodness.

I haven't run in the past week or so, but I went for a walk around Greenlake. As usual, I CAN go for walks, but often times on certain surfaces I do end up paying for 2 days in slight tenderness in the tendons. This doesn't make my recovery any less, it just means I experience discomfort. I wouldn't have traded the gorgeous day and pleasant lake for anything. One day I'd love to run around that lake.

Spoke with a co worker who has HAD patellar tendinitis. He was going on about his 90 mile hike when I said, “You are a beacon of hope for me.” And told him I remembered his patellar tendonitis he mentioned once, and now he was able to do things. I asked him how that journey went for him; and he told me they prescribed Celebrex to him – particularly because he had taken enough ibuprohpen that it burned a hole in his tummy. He told me more about the situation - and I wondered why, in 16 months no one had prescribed ME a Cox inhibitor. NO, it's not a magic pill, and all drugs have side effects, but honestly?!? So I made an appointment and today I will be asking my doctor that I saw years ago for a back problem – about Celebrex. Just because it couldn't hurt to kill pain and inflammation in one swoop. You never know, a nudge in the right direction could be all my body needs to send it back into equilibrium.

16 months into my situation, I'd hope so.
Regardless, moving on into other avenues. Got some good goals going on.

Last night marked day 9 in the 30 day challenge.
Ran out of steam at the end of class; likely a blood sugar/electrolyte issue.
That happens every now and then :P

What else, what else?
I know posting anything is better than nothing because the little things fall by the way side and when I go back 2 years from now and read this, I will be glad I recorded it. Jim and I are doing fine.
Working on the household and perfecting how we do things.

As far as my life on a grand scale:
I am convinced that things are turning around for the better.
That I am making headway on my emotions and my life circumstances.
June is going to be the turning point, in my opinion – and this is good. Excellent.
I have decided right here, right now.

And I am living every day in the moment.
So tonight – I hope day 10 of Bikram treats me okay!

-Angela