I'm having some good karma this week. I don't know what I did and to whom, but I'm glad I did it.
It seems like all these people who couldn't stand me or were mad at me have completely changed face. I'm all cool now. It's slightly weird, but I'm running with it.
One example. Last year, I dated this guy, and he kind of went crazy on me, and we broke up. I don't think I ever really liked him. I liked having someone like me. Never the best relationship to get into.
Anyway, I did think he was a nice person. So, after we broke up, I wrote him and wished him good luck on a bike ride he was doing. Nothing. And then two weeks later I was at a bar and sitting next to someone he knew, he walked over me to talk to the friend. Didn't even say anything to me. I offically realized, I was dead to him.
Fast forward months and months later. I bought a new bike on Craigslist. ITS FABULOUS. Its a 70s AMF 3 speed. Hot, metallic pink. YAY!! Anyway, before I purchased it, I wanted to be sure I was getting a good price. So, I write him an email titled "please don't delete, i need bike help", and then proceed to tell him about the bike. The response I get "I wouldnt' delete your email silly". Ok.
So, yesterday I write him to say I got the bike, it's great, but the back tire is kind of flat and the gear stick a bit. I wanted to know if Richardson Bike Mart is too expensive and if there was someplace better to go. The next thing you know he is offering to come over and clean up my bike for me. I'm all for free. So, I tell him to come by.
Seriously, I don't know what happened. Maybe he is in love and in a good place in his life? Whatever it is, he has seemed to pass the Koolaid around. Everyone's being super nice to me. Just watch. I just jinxed it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
33:07
That was my final time last Saturday. I actually ran the WHOLE 5k. There was one point on a hill where I just wanted to hurt someone and stop, but I wouldn't let myself. And for anyone that says that Dallas does not have any hills, LET ME TELL YOU, there are some and they are not fun.
Anyway, I had my handy dandy watch that kept track of my pace, and I was good. I didn't want to putter out. Every time someone would pass me, I would speed up without realizing it. I would look at the watch and slow myself down. I think it was my inner athlete trying to come out. I just knew that if I ran fast I wouldn't finish.
Also, in my head, I thought a 5k was 3.5 miles. Don't ask me why. So at the three mile mark, I'm doing ok. I'm thinking I have enough energy for half a mile, and then up ahead I see the finish line. I'm like heyyyy. So, I just start sprinting. Why not?
Afterwards, was Craft for breakfast. I just thought I deserved a good treat. And Craft has a pretty good breakfast. Not expensive. I got a fritata with bacon, cheddar, and spinache for $12. Not too bad. And by golly, I deserved it.
Anyway, I had my handy dandy watch that kept track of my pace, and I was good. I didn't want to putter out. Every time someone would pass me, I would speed up without realizing it. I would look at the watch and slow myself down. I think it was my inner athlete trying to come out. I just knew that if I ran fast I wouldn't finish.
Also, in my head, I thought a 5k was 3.5 miles. Don't ask me why. So at the three mile mark, I'm doing ok. I'm thinking I have enough energy for half a mile, and then up ahead I see the finish line. I'm like heyyyy. So, I just start sprinting. Why not?
Afterwards, was Craft for breakfast. I just thought I deserved a good treat. And Craft has a pretty good breakfast. Not expensive. I got a fritata with bacon, cheddar, and spinache for $12. Not too bad. And by golly, I deserved it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My new fitness regime
Ok, I have had a complete flash of genius. Actually, I had it a couple of weeks ago, but we are pretending it just happened.
The only way I can get myself to exercise is if there is a goal or money behind it.
I like to give to charity.
Voila
The grand Victoria running scheme: run a charity 5k a month.
I will spend most of the month training (aka running around my neighborhood) and at the end of the month I will run a 5k for a good cause.
Its a win/win situation. I will get tons of cute t-shirts. AND afterwards, I will get to celebrate with brunch and a well deserved mimosa OR maybe dim sum.
WHOSE WITH ME??? First one is this Saturday. The Bufferfly Boogie.
The only way I can get myself to exercise is if there is a goal or money behind it.
I like to give to charity.
Voila
The grand Victoria running scheme: run a charity 5k a month.
I will spend most of the month training (aka running around my neighborhood) and at the end of the month I will run a 5k for a good cause.
Its a win/win situation. I will get tons of cute t-shirts. AND afterwards, I will get to celebrate with brunch and a well deserved mimosa OR maybe dim sum.
WHOSE WITH ME??? First one is this Saturday. The Bufferfly Boogie.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Ah the tax man
This Saturday morning, I finally sat down with a nice cup of tea and turbo tax and walked through all my paperwork. I had originally done this a couple of weeks ago, but I discovered a slight mistake in my HSA contribution calculation. So, I decided to spend a couple of hours walking through the program with a fine tooth comb.
I should note that while I was doing said walk through of program, my handyman was putting in a new front and back door. I felt the need to bounce questions off of him. Turns out he was a wealth of knowledge. He was the one who informed me that the supplies I bought for my kitchen redo were considered personal property. Cha Ching. He also informed me that I could count the days I worked from home during the year as home office.
Who knew? Well, I guess a lot of people know that. I usually just do an pretty easy tax filing. I don't really have much. My house. My car. My cat.
Anyway, my refund is pretty small this year, but I actually don't have an issue with that. It means they are taking out the right amount of money. I was brought up to believe you should be around zero during tax time every year, if you get a refund, it means the government is holding on to your money too long.
I guess that's another monkey off my back.
I should note that while I was doing said walk through of program, my handyman was putting in a new front and back door. I felt the need to bounce questions off of him. Turns out he was a wealth of knowledge. He was the one who informed me that the supplies I bought for my kitchen redo were considered personal property. Cha Ching. He also informed me that I could count the days I worked from home during the year as home office.
Who knew? Well, I guess a lot of people know that. I usually just do an pretty easy tax filing. I don't really have much. My house. My car. My cat.
Anyway, my refund is pretty small this year, but I actually don't have an issue with that. It means they are taking out the right amount of money. I was brought up to believe you should be around zero during tax time every year, if you get a refund, it means the government is holding on to your money too long.
I guess that's another monkey off my back.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Vietnam
People keep asking me to talk about my trip, and for the last couple of weeks, I could only really give snippets. My mind just couldn't wrap itself around all I experienced. I went through culture shock and aw. It wasn't like boarding a plane to London.
I think I have finally digested it enough to write snippets. I wish I had had the internet and enough time to write while I was there, but I decided I wanted to spend more time actually discovering the place instead of hovering over the computer. Sorry.
So today, we will discuss Halong Bay. I will say again, I think everyone needs to go there at least once in their life. Unfortunately, I fear it is already becoming very over-run as we speak.
Luckily, I did research before we left, and found a boat that takes a different path through the bay. Its also smaller, which for me was a plus and a minus. Plus, you have a smaller number of people you have to share the boat with. Minus, if the people you have on the boat with you are awful, your kind of stuck.
Anyway, after a four hour drive from Hanoi through rice paddies and small towns, with a 15 minute stop at a "craft" market, we finally get to the bay. They drop us off and have us sit in this dining hall at tables that demarcate what boat we are on. Our boat is Red Dragon.
We soon discover that there are two Red Dragons. They had just finished building the second one the previous month. Me, Elizabeth, and Kristine are whisked away with three other people to a small little motor boat which put-puts us up to our Junk. I call it a Junk because its a replica of a chinese pirate ship from the 1800s. I know, sounds kind of dorky, but MAN was it beautiful.
Seriously, our room on the boat was prettier then our hotel room in Hanoi. The bathroom was spotless and we had windows on either side that just gave us luscious views.
Views of what? You ask.
The rocks.
I can't explain them, but they are amazing. I seriously spent a day on this boat sailing in between these rocks through a thin fog and loved every minute of it.
Granted, we ate constantly and had a side trip to a fishing village. But overall, it was the rocks. On the second day, I got up at 6 am and just went out on the boat and just looked at them while the sun rose. The only other person up top was the captain. There were no other boats about. It was just me.
Loved it.
Ok, I do have to say, we did run into an odd moment where during dinner the night before the crew put on a bit of a talent show and had us participate in a partriotic song about Ho Chi Min. FYI, if there is a video of this and I'm brought before a senate sub-committee, I only joined in because the boys were so cute.
Anyway, I was good and went sea kayaking with Elizabeth the second day and took a dip in the water. How many times in your life are you going to get a chance like this? It was freezing, but worth it.
On the boat, the other guests told us we have to go to Ankor Watt. They said Halong Bay was right up there for top places, but we had to go to Ankor.
I made me decision then that Cambodia would be visited within the next couple of years. I have to go back!
I think I have finally digested it enough to write snippets. I wish I had had the internet and enough time to write while I was there, but I decided I wanted to spend more time actually discovering the place instead of hovering over the computer. Sorry.
So today, we will discuss Halong Bay. I will say again, I think everyone needs to go there at least once in their life. Unfortunately, I fear it is already becoming very over-run as we speak.
Luckily, I did research before we left, and found a boat that takes a different path through the bay. Its also smaller, which for me was a plus and a minus. Plus, you have a smaller number of people you have to share the boat with. Minus, if the people you have on the boat with you are awful, your kind of stuck.
Anyway, after a four hour drive from Hanoi through rice paddies and small towns, with a 15 minute stop at a "craft" market, we finally get to the bay. They drop us off and have us sit in this dining hall at tables that demarcate what boat we are on. Our boat is Red Dragon.
We soon discover that there are two Red Dragons. They had just finished building the second one the previous month. Me, Elizabeth, and Kristine are whisked away with three other people to a small little motor boat which put-puts us up to our Junk. I call it a Junk because its a replica of a chinese pirate ship from the 1800s. I know, sounds kind of dorky, but MAN was it beautiful.
Seriously, our room on the boat was prettier then our hotel room in Hanoi. The bathroom was spotless and we had windows on either side that just gave us luscious views.
Views of what? You ask.
The rocks.
I can't explain them, but they are amazing. I seriously spent a day on this boat sailing in between these rocks through a thin fog and loved every minute of it.
Granted, we ate constantly and had a side trip to a fishing village. But overall, it was the rocks. On the second day, I got up at 6 am and just went out on the boat and just looked at them while the sun rose. The only other person up top was the captain. There were no other boats about. It was just me.
Loved it.
Ok, I do have to say, we did run into an odd moment where during dinner the night before the crew put on a bit of a talent show and had us participate in a partriotic song about Ho Chi Min. FYI, if there is a video of this and I'm brought before a senate sub-committee, I only joined in because the boys were so cute.
Anyway, I was good and went sea kayaking with Elizabeth the second day and took a dip in the water. How many times in your life are you going to get a chance like this? It was freezing, but worth it.
On the boat, the other guests told us we have to go to Ankor Watt. They said Halong Bay was right up there for top places, but we had to go to Ankor.
I made me decision then that Cambodia would be visited within the next couple of years. I have to go back!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Neighborhood Services
About once a month, my friend Shandi emails and requests a night away from her children. I, as always, am happy to oblige. Unfortunately, Shandi has had a rough month, and not only did she have two sick kids, but her husband got pneumonia and messed up his ear drum. So, this month, when she asked where I wanted to go, I said lets be all Dallas and try Neighborhood Services. She had never heard of it, but she was all for it. Elizabeth always up for a new restaurant came with
We met at the restaurant at 6 tonight. I guess that was right when it opened. I'm so glad we decided to meet after work. We were seated immediately. There were a couple of booths open, and we asked if we could have one, but they said they were saving those for bigger parties up to 6. I guess beggers can't be choosers, but I would like to point out I never saw a party bigger then 4 in those booths.
Anyhoo, as is the case, we just kept talking and talking. It took us a while to actually look at the menu. The waitress didn't push at all. It was refreshing. Finally, we did order a bottle of wine, and as I was a bit hungry, I asked the waitress for a couple of appetizer suggestions. Elizabeth happens to love veggies so we decided to share the fried asparagus.
Actually, it tasty and a nice light start.
Moving on, I got the waitress to start describing the salads and half way through her description of the crab and avacodo one, I stopped her and just told her I would have it. Elizabeth decided to get it too. I remembered the salads from Hibiscus which were enough for a whole table, but she assured us these were meant for one.
I have to say, the salad was a bit bigger then I expected, but I hoovered that thing down. It was a nice lump of crabmeat with chopped avacado and some citrus. It was just good.
And then came something completely different. The noodle special was pasta bolognese. I don't know why, but I heard the waitress describe the bolognese and its 10 hour cook time, and I knew I had to have it. Again, not a speck left on the plate when it was done. Seriously, it was delicious.
I kept telling the waitress how much I liked it, and she went into a description of how the chef would make the chicken stock for the sauce. She just kept talking and I just got turned on. Food is such an aphrodisiac. Seriously, I would do dirty things to a man who came over to my house and made me this dish.
Anyway, we moved on to desert. Because we are all American girls, we had to get the Ding Dong desert. I was done after 2 or 3 bites, but since we shared, it was the perfect size.
Overall, it was a good meal. Shandi got a good night away from her boys. I got turned on by a man whose face I never saw. What else is new??
We met at the restaurant at 6 tonight. I guess that was right when it opened. I'm so glad we decided to meet after work. We were seated immediately. There were a couple of booths open, and we asked if we could have one, but they said they were saving those for bigger parties up to 6. I guess beggers can't be choosers, but I would like to point out I never saw a party bigger then 4 in those booths.
Anyhoo, as is the case, we just kept talking and talking. It took us a while to actually look at the menu. The waitress didn't push at all. It was refreshing. Finally, we did order a bottle of wine, and as I was a bit hungry, I asked the waitress for a couple of appetizer suggestions. Elizabeth happens to love veggies so we decided to share the fried asparagus.
Actually, it tasty and a nice light start.
Moving on, I got the waitress to start describing the salads and half way through her description of the crab and avacodo one, I stopped her and just told her I would have it. Elizabeth decided to get it too. I remembered the salads from Hibiscus which were enough for a whole table, but she assured us these were meant for one.
I have to say, the salad was a bit bigger then I expected, but I hoovered that thing down. It was a nice lump of crabmeat with chopped avacado and some citrus. It was just good.
And then came something completely different. The noodle special was pasta bolognese. I don't know why, but I heard the waitress describe the bolognese and its 10 hour cook time, and I knew I had to have it. Again, not a speck left on the plate when it was done. Seriously, it was delicious.
I kept telling the waitress how much I liked it, and she went into a description of how the chef would make the chicken stock for the sauce. She just kept talking and I just got turned on. Food is such an aphrodisiac. Seriously, I would do dirty things to a man who came over to my house and made me this dish.
Anyway, we moved on to desert. Because we are all American girls, we had to get the Ding Dong desert. I was done after 2 or 3 bites, but since we shared, it was the perfect size.
Overall, it was a good meal. Shandi got a good night away from her boys. I got turned on by a man whose face I never saw. What else is new??
Monday, March 16, 2009
On a rampage
Everyone feels the need to yell at me these days. I just don't get it. So, I just started yelling back.
Situation 1: The gym
I discover I was being double charged by my gym. I call and inquire about this. Two years ago, I signed up at one branch of the gym, but I actually work out at another branch that is closer to work. The original branch just became independent and appeared to be charging me. The gym manager was going to talk to them and figure this out.
I get a call out of the blue from a woman at the independent gym. She was a very Texas woman. She wanted to know what my issue was. I belonged to their gym. I said no, I joined there but I really didn't want to go to that branch. She just went off on me about this that and the other. Finally, I just stopped her. I just said "look your upsetting me. All I want is for someone to stop double charging me. I don't want to go to your gym. Deal with it."
Situation 2: Turbo Tax
When I completed my tax return this year, I paid extra for Turbo Tax to review my return. I was supposed to get a professional review. I paid for it because I had noticed an issue with it last year, counting my contribution to my HSA as taxable income. I specifically asked them to review this.
The response I got, Turbo Tax is calculating this correctly.
So, I email and request a refund. This morning I get a call from a very gruff man in New York. He just starts going off on me. When I start to explain how his report does not walk me through anything, he interrupts me. I go off on how he is being incredibly rude. Next thing I know he is hanging up the phone on me and saying he will send me my refund.
I was in shock. If someone starts talking over me and doesn't listen to me, I'm going to go off on them about their rudeness. I'm not going to fight someone who doesn't listen to a word I say. I'm going to call them out. I guess they have no time for that.
Ug. Rude people.
Situation 1: The gym
I discover I was being double charged by my gym. I call and inquire about this. Two years ago, I signed up at one branch of the gym, but I actually work out at another branch that is closer to work. The original branch just became independent and appeared to be charging me. The gym manager was going to talk to them and figure this out.
I get a call out of the blue from a woman at the independent gym. She was a very Texas woman. She wanted to know what my issue was. I belonged to their gym. I said no, I joined there but I really didn't want to go to that branch. She just went off on me about this that and the other. Finally, I just stopped her. I just said "look your upsetting me. All I want is for someone to stop double charging me. I don't want to go to your gym. Deal with it."
Situation 2: Turbo Tax
When I completed my tax return this year, I paid extra for Turbo Tax to review my return. I was supposed to get a professional review. I paid for it because I had noticed an issue with it last year, counting my contribution to my HSA as taxable income. I specifically asked them to review this.
The response I got, Turbo Tax is calculating this correctly.
So, I email and request a refund. This morning I get a call from a very gruff man in New York. He just starts going off on me. When I start to explain how his report does not walk me through anything, he interrupts me. I go off on how he is being incredibly rude. Next thing I know he is hanging up the phone on me and saying he will send me my refund.
I was in shock. If someone starts talking over me and doesn't listen to me, I'm going to go off on them about their rudeness. I'm not going to fight someone who doesn't listen to a word I say. I'm going to call them out. I guess they have no time for that.
Ug. Rude people.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Life Update
I used to be so good about blogging everyday, but I fear the intense need I used to have to write a book based on my ramblings has subsided.
But, if anyone wants to use the great idea I used to have for a book, your more then welcome to. I wanted to call it Regina and have it be a book of short stories that all relate in some way to the this girl who plays Freddie Mercury in a traveling Queen cover band. Each chapter would be titled the name of a city the group stops in for the night.
Just a thought.
Anyway, it took me over a week to recuperate from Vietnam and my last minute work trip to Minneapolis. I had a wonderful night with Jane and her family there. I can't believe how adorable her daughter is. And such a good girl. I had one of those life moments where I sat back and thought, maybe I am a breeder.
And then it was back to real life this week. I showed up for running class on Monday. I was feeling ok. I think I had been back on a normal sleep schedule for a day and the mini cold I had had over the weekend seemed to have dissapated. We started running and I was ok. By 25 minutes into it, I just wanted to hurt someone. I made the three miles we had scheduled to run, but my coach had to run beside me and talk me through the last block. It was not pretty.
To push myself, I signed up for a 5k at the end of the month, the Butterfly Boogie. I think I might try to sign up for a 5k a month, in order to have some sort of self directed goals set up.
Anyway, I was supposed to run Wednesday night with Elizabeth, but it was raining. I know you can still run in the rain, but I personally am not into it when its 37 degrees outside. Elizabeth was still gung ho about doing it, but she called me from the office. She had forgot to bring pants. Damn! We had to meet for dinner instead.
It was a night at Victor Tangos. That place still isn't busy and the ahi tuna nachos and deep fried green beans with wasabi aoli are my current craving. I heard its awful on a Saturday night, but I don't really do Knox/Henderson on a Saturday night.
And then last night was class again. We met at the Cooper Center for a fitness lecture. My coach didn't show. So we were lumped into another training group with this older male coach. He said we would be running an easy 25 minutes. My version of easy is a 12:30 mile. I'm just a baby runner you know. He was having us run 10:50. Obviously people have different definitions of easy...
And then there was the usual family drama this week. I have a large family and the phone tree can take hours to get through. I had one of those life moments where I sat back and thought, maybe I don't really want to pass on my genetic code.
But, if anyone wants to use the great idea I used to have for a book, your more then welcome to. I wanted to call it Regina and have it be a book of short stories that all relate in some way to the this girl who plays Freddie Mercury in a traveling Queen cover band. Each chapter would be titled the name of a city the group stops in for the night.
Just a thought.
Anyway, it took me over a week to recuperate from Vietnam and my last minute work trip to Minneapolis. I had a wonderful night with Jane and her family there. I can't believe how adorable her daughter is. And such a good girl. I had one of those life moments where I sat back and thought, maybe I am a breeder.
And then it was back to real life this week. I showed up for running class on Monday. I was feeling ok. I think I had been back on a normal sleep schedule for a day and the mini cold I had had over the weekend seemed to have dissapated. We started running and I was ok. By 25 minutes into it, I just wanted to hurt someone. I made the three miles we had scheduled to run, but my coach had to run beside me and talk me through the last block. It was not pretty.
To push myself, I signed up for a 5k at the end of the month, the Butterfly Boogie. I think I might try to sign up for a 5k a month, in order to have some sort of self directed goals set up.
Anyway, I was supposed to run Wednesday night with Elizabeth, but it was raining. I know you can still run in the rain, but I personally am not into it when its 37 degrees outside. Elizabeth was still gung ho about doing it, but she called me from the office. She had forgot to bring pants. Damn! We had to meet for dinner instead.
It was a night at Victor Tangos. That place still isn't busy and the ahi tuna nachos and deep fried green beans with wasabi aoli are my current craving. I heard its awful on a Saturday night, but I don't really do Knox/Henderson on a Saturday night.
And then last night was class again. We met at the Cooper Center for a fitness lecture. My coach didn't show. So we were lumped into another training group with this older male coach. He said we would be running an easy 25 minutes. My version of easy is a 12:30 mile. I'm just a baby runner you know. He was having us run 10:50. Obviously people have different definitions of easy...
And then there was the usual family drama this week. I have a large family and the phone tree can take hours to get through. I had one of those life moments where I sat back and thought, maybe I don't really want to pass on my genetic code.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Award for worst blogger ever
Ok, there was internet in Vietnam, but it was kind of sketchy and in and out, and I didn't want to spend all my time on the computer.
Let me just say, I know people have certain perscpectives about this world and the places in it. I think I'm a better person for really going out there and exploring. Life is more then my little corner of Richardson. Life is:
- trusting in others, especially complete strangers
- learning how to adjust and go with the flow
- opening your eyes to the beauty in things that are different
I seriously believe that everyone, EVERYONE, needs to visit Halong Bay before they pass away. It is the most amazing place I have ever been. My new happy place is on a slow moving boat in the fog that meanders through its rocks.
Sadly, I give it all five years. Five years before its completely over-run with multiple boats and people, and the caves have huge railing and plastic steps and the fishing villagers hock "hand-made" pillow cases. I say go NOW!!
Let me just say, I know people have certain perscpectives about this world and the places in it. I think I'm a better person for really going out there and exploring. Life is more then my little corner of Richardson. Life is:
- trusting in others, especially complete strangers
- learning how to adjust and go with the flow
- opening your eyes to the beauty in things that are different
I seriously believe that everyone, EVERYONE, needs to visit Halong Bay before they pass away. It is the most amazing place I have ever been. My new happy place is on a slow moving boat in the fog that meanders through its rocks.
Sadly, I give it all five years. Five years before its completely over-run with multiple boats and people, and the caves have huge railing and plastic steps and the fishing villagers hock "hand-made" pillow cases. I say go NOW!!
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