It is the fifth month of 2011, and I have stayed true to my resolution to try something new:
January: joined a bowling league with W
February: went to my first book-club meeting
March: traveled away from home for 28 days straight (yuck)
April: planted my own flower bed and vegetable garden
May: bought MY OWN bowling ball for league #2
Also...
...I have started watching a Spanish language soap opera (telenovela) which I would like to believe is helping to improve my Spanish, but in no way is it contributing to resolution to learn French.
...I organized my sewing box and downloaded a skirt pattern, does that count?
...W and I walked around a campground next to beach and ate at their taco stand, does that count too? We tried to reserve a campsite for the next weekend but it was already sold out, darn.
...When I was at a hotel and an episode of Friends came on the TV, I turned it off. I wonder if I'll ever watch Friends again now...
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
March Madness
My crazy month of travel
Day 4
C gave up his bed for us to sleep in, but there was no sleeping in a city loft apartment with city noise and city lights. I couldn’t breath because of my stuffy nose and I couldn’t swollow because of my sore throat.
I didn’t want to let my sickness take over so I forced myself to spend the morning sightseeing and exploring the city with W. It was fun, but would have been more so if I didn’t feel like I was going to keel over with a sicky germ head and lack of sleep.
My crazy month of travel
Day 4
C gave up his bed for us to sleep in, but there was no sleeping in a city loft apartment with city noise and city lights. I couldn’t breath because of my stuffy nose and I couldn’t swollow because of my sore throat.
I didn’t want to let my sickness take over so I forced myself to spend the morning sightseeing and exploring the city with W. It was fun, but would have been more so if I didn’t feel like I was going to keel over with a sicky germ head and lack of sleep.
March Madness
My crazy month of travel
Day 3 – March 3, 2011
Woke up and sore throat was gone! My home remedies must have worked!
Wrong. It’s now nighttime and I can hardly swallow my throat hurts so bad. It got worse as the day went on, and talking non-stop for 8 hours didn’t help.
Work appointment in Watsonville all day. Throat just go worse and worse. So annoyed that I’m getting sick. Being sick on travels suck. Just keep drinking Apple Cider Vinegar…
4:00, finally done. Drive to Oakland to pick up W at the airport and then to downtown San Francisco to meet up with P’s brother. Ignore the sore throat, ignore the sore throat. I am not getting sick, I am not getting sick.
I love San Francisco. I want to live in San Francisco. How can I live in San Francisco? Walked around city, went to awesome restaurant. C’s city luxury loft is awesome. Everything is awesome except my sore throat. Going to gargle hydrogen peroxide again.
My crazy month of travel
Day 3 – March 3, 2011
Woke up and sore throat was gone! My home remedies must have worked!
Wrong. It’s now nighttime and I can hardly swallow my throat hurts so bad. It got worse as the day went on, and talking non-stop for 8 hours didn’t help.
Work appointment in Watsonville all day. Throat just go worse and worse. So annoyed that I’m getting sick. Being sick on travels suck. Just keep drinking Apple Cider Vinegar…
4:00, finally done. Drive to Oakland to pick up W at the airport and then to downtown San Francisco to meet up with P’s brother. Ignore the sore throat, ignore the sore throat. I am not getting sick, I am not getting sick.
I love San Francisco. I want to live in San Francisco. How can I live in San Francisco? Walked around city, went to awesome restaurant. C’s city luxury loft is awesome. Everything is awesome except my sore throat. Going to gargle hydrogen peroxide again.
March Madness
My crazy month of Travel
Day 2 – March 2
Mission today is to swap out this stupid rental car. It’s raining and the windshield wipers don’t work. Checked out of hotel and found the nearest Budget. No luck. The only other economy car available is the exact same car I’m trying to exchange. No thanks.
Went to work appointment. Drove to SFO to exchange car and try to get an upgrade? Lugged my million bags of luggage across the entire rental lot to the counter, which was the most miserable hike ever and I once again vowed to pack lighter next time. I always say that, but I can never do it! It’s literally impossible. Especially when I’m going to be gone for twenty-eight days. It just really, really sucks being on your own trying to juggle four different sized bags.
Tried to bargain with “Candy” at the Budget desk to get a new car. After an hour ended up in the same economy car, only this time a Hyundai instead of Ford. At least Hyundai’s have XM radio. And the windshield wipers work.
Ate lunch at Vegan Chinese Restaurant in Palo Alto. I love Palo Alto. I want to be a Professor at Stanford and live in Palo Alto. How can I live in Palo Alto?
Drove to Marina and checked into hotel. Still trying to find a cheap salon to get my nasty haircut fixed. Decided to buy two dollar scissors at Wal Mart and try to cut my own hair. Ummm, don’t know how that worked out. Pretty sure the back of my hair now looks like a five year old cut it. Whatever.
Throat has been feeling funny. Gargled hydrogen peroxide and drank apple cider vinegar.
Ordered take-out from a Korean restaurant and ate it in front of my computer while watching Mr. Sunshine on hulu. Took a shower, watched Survivor. Went to bed.
Throat has been feeling funny. Need Sleep.
My crazy month of Travel
Day 2 – March 2
Mission today is to swap out this stupid rental car. It’s raining and the windshield wipers don’t work. Checked out of hotel and found the nearest Budget. No luck. The only other economy car available is the exact same car I’m trying to exchange. No thanks.
Went to work appointment. Drove to SFO to exchange car and try to get an upgrade? Lugged my million bags of luggage across the entire rental lot to the counter, which was the most miserable hike ever and I once again vowed to pack lighter next time. I always say that, but I can never do it! It’s literally impossible. Especially when I’m going to be gone for twenty-eight days. It just really, really sucks being on your own trying to juggle four different sized bags.
Tried to bargain with “Candy” at the Budget desk to get a new car. After an hour ended up in the same economy car, only this time a Hyundai instead of Ford. At least Hyundai’s have XM radio. And the windshield wipers work.
Ate lunch at Vegan Chinese Restaurant in Palo Alto. I love Palo Alto. I want to be a Professor at Stanford and live in Palo Alto. How can I live in Palo Alto?
Drove to Marina and checked into hotel. Still trying to find a cheap salon to get my nasty haircut fixed. Decided to buy two dollar scissors at Wal Mart and try to cut my own hair. Ummm, don’t know how that worked out. Pretty sure the back of my hair now looks like a five year old cut it. Whatever.
Throat has been feeling funny. Gargled hydrogen peroxide and drank apple cider vinegar.
Ordered take-out from a Korean restaurant and ate it in front of my computer while watching Mr. Sunshine on hulu. Took a shower, watched Survivor. Went to bed.
Throat has been feeling funny. Need Sleep.
March Madness
My crazy month of non-stop travel
Day 1 – March 1, 2011
San Diego airport – nothing to complain about. Easy in, no lines and an A32 boarding pass. Right back to the last seat on the plane.
Flight uneventful. My overhead seat light was extremely bright for some reason, but at least I got to read the entire time.
Oakland airport, Budget rental counter. My name isn’t on the Fast Break list, of course! Why isn’t it ever on that list? Oh, because my credit card on file has expired. Oops. Tried to get an upgrade. No bargaining with this lady. However, I could get a Chevy Malibu for ten dollars more a day. I don’t think so. Instead, I get the economy sized Ford Focus in the ugliest pale green color I’ve ever seen. What.
It’s lightly raining in the bay area, and the windshield wipers on this majestic Ford only work to spread a foggy mess of smeared water or something all over in front of my vision. Great.
Check in at the Pleasant Hill Inn, conveniently located in Pleasant Hill. Front desk lady is nice enough. The lobby looks humble but nice enough. Fine so far for a super-economy hotel for one night.
Room 203. The key doesn’t work. Lug all my stuff back downstairs and request a room that’s not right next to the elevator anyway.
Room 313. The key works and I enter my dormitory for the night. Not one to complain about cheap hotels I ignore the manifest disgusts… the ratty bed spread and thread-bare sheets. The dust bunnies lining the walls, the dried paint (or SOMETHING) all over the carpet, the internet that doesn’t work, the TV that doesn’t work….sigh. But whatever. I’m not complaining, remember? All I can think about is how I have 27 more days of this. Blah.
I call the 800 number for Budget to get a new car tomorrow. They direct me to Oakland’s Budget center. I try calling three times with no answer. Can’t even look up a nearby Budget place on the internet. I’ll have to wake up early to go sit at a Starbucks and surf the web.
11:29. Day 1. It can only get better from here.
My crazy month of non-stop travel
Day 1 – March 1, 2011
San Diego airport – nothing to complain about. Easy in, no lines and an A32 boarding pass. Right back to the last seat on the plane.
Flight uneventful. My overhead seat light was extremely bright for some reason, but at least I got to read the entire time.
Oakland airport, Budget rental counter. My name isn’t on the Fast Break list, of course! Why isn’t it ever on that list? Oh, because my credit card on file has expired. Oops. Tried to get an upgrade. No bargaining with this lady. However, I could get a Chevy Malibu for ten dollars more a day. I don’t think so. Instead, I get the economy sized Ford Focus in the ugliest pale green color I’ve ever seen. What.
It’s lightly raining in the bay area, and the windshield wipers on this majestic Ford only work to spread a foggy mess of smeared water or something all over in front of my vision. Great.
Check in at the Pleasant Hill Inn, conveniently located in Pleasant Hill. Front desk lady is nice enough. The lobby looks humble but nice enough. Fine so far for a super-economy hotel for one night.
Room 203. The key doesn’t work. Lug all my stuff back downstairs and request a room that’s not right next to the elevator anyway.
Room 313. The key works and I enter my dormitory for the night. Not one to complain about cheap hotels I ignore the manifest disgusts… the ratty bed spread and thread-bare sheets. The dust bunnies lining the walls, the dried paint (or SOMETHING) all over the carpet, the internet that doesn’t work, the TV that doesn’t work….sigh. But whatever. I’m not complaining, remember? All I can think about is how I have 27 more days of this. Blah.
I call the 800 number for Budget to get a new car tomorrow. They direct me to Oakland’s Budget center. I try calling three times with no answer. Can’t even look up a nearby Budget place on the internet. I’ll have to wake up early to go sit at a Starbucks and surf the web.
11:29. Day 1. It can only get better from here.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
About this Project
Update: February 26, 2011
Almost two months have passed since I started my Project 2011. It started at as this great project for me to accomplish all these goals this year. After two months, it's turning out to be more like me resolving to overcome my vices by tackling one each month.
In January it was to watch less TV. In February it has been to save money and spend less. In March all bets are off because I will be traveling the entire month and who knows what's going to happen.
I decided I need to modify the focus of this blog and this project 2011. The past two months have shown my progress (or lack thereof) in trying to change some lifestyle habits. I kinda like the idea that I'm making myself accountable for these things. It makes me more aware of what I'm doing in my life and what I really need to change.
When I first started this project, there were several things in my life I really needed to change; and those are the first three items on my list of projects for 2011. Also number 10 was getting to be an issue, which we've already discussed. However, although I am no longer watching my Friends DVD's I have moved on to my Will and Grace DVD's which is a little bit like cheating. The point of me not watching Friends anymore was to help with watching less TV in general... sigh.
Rounding out the top four things on which Michele needs to improve is "Exercise."
This is something I just can not get motivated to do! I used to be a member of LA Fitness way back in the day. I would go every single day and work out for about 2 hours! I was in such good shape! Last year, after about four years of nothing, I started walking and using a shake-weight. Not quite two hours a day, maybe 30 minutes if any. I slacked off after only a four months when I got mono and basically couldn't do any physical exercise of any kind for six weeks. Now, I'm back to my lazy-self and barely exercise twice a month. I vow to make April my exercise month. I might have to splurge and join a gym, we shall see...
Almost two months have passed since I started my Project 2011. It started at as this great project for me to accomplish all these goals this year. After two months, it's turning out to be more like me resolving to overcome my vices by tackling one each month.
In January it was to watch less TV. In February it has been to save money and spend less. In March all bets are off because I will be traveling the entire month and who knows what's going to happen.
I decided I need to modify the focus of this blog and this project 2011. The past two months have shown my progress (or lack thereof) in trying to change some lifestyle habits. I kinda like the idea that I'm making myself accountable for these things. It makes me more aware of what I'm doing in my life and what I really need to change.
When I first started this project, there were several things in my life I really needed to change; and those are the first three items on my list of projects for 2011. Also number 10 was getting to be an issue, which we've already discussed. However, although I am no longer watching my Friends DVD's I have moved on to my Will and Grace DVD's which is a little bit like cheating. The point of me not watching Friends anymore was to help with watching less TV in general... sigh.
Rounding out the top four things on which Michele needs to improve is "Exercise."
This is something I just can not get motivated to do! I used to be a member of LA Fitness way back in the day. I would go every single day and work out for about 2 hours! I was in such good shape! Last year, after about four years of nothing, I started walking and using a shake-weight. Not quite two hours a day, maybe 30 minutes if any. I slacked off after only a four months when I got mono and basically couldn't do any physical exercise of any kind for six weeks. Now, I'm back to my lazy-self and barely exercise twice a month. I vow to make April my exercise month. I might have to splurge and join a gym, we shall see...
Friday, February 18, 2011
Packing is an up-hill battle
I really tried to pack light for this trip I’m on right now. I forced myself to use a carry-on sized suitcase and I even lightened my purse. Why does it feel like I still brought too much stuff? Luckily W came on this four-day trip with me this time, so when I didn’t have any more room in my suitcase I just added my extra stuff to HIS! I feel like that’s cheating though, right?
I don’t know how in the world I’m going to pack for my three-week trip in March. Especially since I’m going to COLD places. Just now, I was thinking I didn’t even pack enough warm stuff for this trip, because I’m freezing and wish I had more layers. But that would have involved me packing a bigger suitcase, which I was trying to avoid! I guess there really is no way around it. I am a naturally freezing-cold person, and even in Southern California I wear three layers of clothing in the evening.
I’ve already been planning for weeks, what I’m going to pack for this upcoming March trip where I have to go to Northern California, and New England for, actually, almost a whole month. I’m going to be pretty much just wear the same outfit every single day I think – skinny jeans, boots, black turtleneck, cardigan, and thick woolly sweater; and a Pashmina. And a coat. That should keep me warm enough.
The other problem with packing is my excessive amounts of toiletries and hair-styling tools. Especially now that my hair is absolutely impossible to style, I have to bring a blow-dryer, a hot iron, two brushes, and a pick. Not to mention piles of bobby pins and barrettes. Then there’s the five different hair products: shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, root-boost spray, styling putty, and hairspray. Wait, that’s six products. Ridiculous. Add that to my body lotion, face cream, night cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, makeup remover, cotton balls, nail polish remover, ear plugs, benadryl, advil, chapstick, and all my makeup! It’s too much stuff! I am so high-maintenance!
One of my trips in November, I didn’t pack the blow dryer. That was my tiny attempt at packing lighter. Maybe that will have to be the case again. Or I just pack that one outfit like I said, because I never end up wearing all the clothes I bring anyway, and that should leave me enough room for my entire bathroom. Thank you very much.
I don’t know how in the world I’m going to pack for my three-week trip in March. Especially since I’m going to COLD places. Just now, I was thinking I didn’t even pack enough warm stuff for this trip, because I’m freezing and wish I had more layers. But that would have involved me packing a bigger suitcase, which I was trying to avoid! I guess there really is no way around it. I am a naturally freezing-cold person, and even in Southern California I wear three layers of clothing in the evening.
I’ve already been planning for weeks, what I’m going to pack for this upcoming March trip where I have to go to Northern California, and New England for, actually, almost a whole month. I’m going to be pretty much just wear the same outfit every single day I think – skinny jeans, boots, black turtleneck, cardigan, and thick woolly sweater; and a Pashmina. And a coat. That should keep me warm enough.
The other problem with packing is my excessive amounts of toiletries and hair-styling tools. Especially now that my hair is absolutely impossible to style, I have to bring a blow-dryer, a hot iron, two brushes, and a pick. Not to mention piles of bobby pins and barrettes. Then there’s the five different hair products: shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, root-boost spray, styling putty, and hairspray. Wait, that’s six products. Ridiculous. Add that to my body lotion, face cream, night cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, makeup remover, cotton balls, nail polish remover, ear plugs, benadryl, advil, chapstick, and all my makeup! It’s too much stuff! I am so high-maintenance!
One of my trips in November, I didn’t pack the blow dryer. That was my tiny attempt at packing lighter. Maybe that will have to be the case again. Or I just pack that one outfit like I said, because I never end up wearing all the clothes I bring anyway, and that should leave me enough room for my entire bathroom. Thank you very much.
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