The Pink Slip

What causes bad relationships?

Bad dates? Forced conversation? Being set-up?

I've been on some bad dates, struggled through forced conversation and have relentlessly told everyone I know not to set me up on dates. And yet I've still had bad relationships.

It's been a little over two years since my last relationship. And I've just been doing my thing. Someone will come along, right?

Aside from the fact that the majority of men who come into my workplace are either married or seriously dating someone, I have met zero eligible bachelors. It could be because they all think I'm jail bait because I don't look over the age of 18.

And then yesterday something that's never happened to me before happened.

It's just been mostly me, the Boss and the Boss Lady at work this past week since Management went to have his surgery. So if it get busy, we are all busy.  I typically lose blocks of time when I sit down with customers, and the same was true yesterday.

I was with a lady helping her make her shoe choices and talking about what her PT said. Once I was done, I noticed the Boss Lady had taken a phone message for me. She wrote it down on one of those pink message slips.

Y'all, I've never had someone call and ask for me before, unless you count my mom and her running friends.

I assumed it was a customer calling me with questions. But I didn't recognize the name, and Boss Lady wrote that his mother got my card and told him to give me a call.

So my thought process goes to I must have fit his mom for shoes or talked to her about one of the training programs, and that's how she got my card.

I called him back. Left a message explaining that I was returning his call. Please call me back if he has any questions.

The whole thing was just kinda weird.

So I head back to Boss Lady's office and ask her about the pink slip.

She laughs before she says anything, and then she tells me when she was taking the message she asked what his call was regarding. She said he got really embarrassed when he had to explain.

He said his mother met me at the store one day. I gave her my card, which I don't remember doing yet it's something I would do. She, then, gave my card to her son and told him to "call" me. As in, not about shoes.

Who does that?

My friend Denise pointed out a major red flag.

His mother told him to call me....and then he actually did call me.

Seriously, I can't make this up. This is actually my real life.

Thankfully, he hasn't returned my call because I don't have any idea what I would say to him.

I mean he should have gently stalked me before calling. Like came up the store and made it seem like a chance meeting. That's what I would have done had my mom told me there was a hottie at some store she went to. (Does that make me a bad person?)

Overdressedness and Other Shenanigans

As you know, I work at a running shop. So my daily attire is every woman's dream. WORKOUT CLOTHES!!!!!!!

But I'll tell ya, I have lots of other clothes I kinda miss wearing. Dresses. Skirts. Cardigans. Concert t-shirts.

On my days off, I plan on being completely overdressed.

A week ago I delivered a homemade chocolate cake to one of my co-workers. He had a major surgery this past week, so I wanted him to eat something extremely delicious before going under the knife.

I forget that the work peeps never see me in regular people clothes. It was a beautiful day, and I wore some bright colored pants with a neon yellow cardigan. I felt like a girly girl in the best possible way. Is it weird that I'm excited about the next time I get to wear a dress to something?

Anyway, I'm reaching for stuff to write since I haven't gone to any of my scheduled classes for the week. Pure Barre is on Wednesday, and yoga is on Friday. If I don't sleep in tomorrow morning, I may go for a run....but let's be honest. I'll probably sleep in until the last possible minute.

I do have a date with my favorite kid.

We are going to watch Frozen. She told me I had to dress up and look pretty, and "don't forget to wear a smile."

Could she be any cuter? I think not.

If any of you have any functions or shenangians you need me to partake in, let me know. I'm looking for any excuse to put on a party dress.

Back in the Saddle Again

It's been a good week.

A weird one,  but a good one.

I took my first Pure Barre class, went to a sunset yoga class and ran/walked an unpaved trail by my house.

My hips are full of super tight muscles, and I don't mean that in a good way. The trail by my house is super hilly, but so beautiful. I'm working it into my rotation because it's a good work out. I love trail running. It works different muscle groups, and it always reminds me that I'm not as "in shape" as I'd like to be. Very humbling.

I'm also starting the daunting task of packing for the big move. Only 26 days until I have my own place. I've been collecting boxes from work, but I've yet to put them to good use. I'm gonna change that this week. I have to start. So far all I've packed is Christmas stuff, which was already packed. I just put it in a new Rubbermaid container for better storage.

I've also been listening to this song non-stop. My love for Phillip Phillips is huge. I saw him live with John Mayer last July. He is amazing. Sings like an angel.

The drums at the end of this song make my stomach hurt. I love everything about it. It's so full of energy, and he always sings with so much power. I can't even explain it. Just listen to it. The last 30 seconds or so will blow your mind.

This week's workout schedule looks something like this:

Wednesday - Pure Barre. Bring on the hip thrusts and gyrating.
Friday - Yoga. Relaxing on my day off.
One of those other days - Trail run or regular run. Gotta stick with my roots.

Next week will get even more intense. We will start our 5K training group at work. So I will run Tuesdays and Saturdays, and go to Pure Barre and Yoga once a week. Like I said, I'm turning my body into a machine. I want to run a marathon, but I have to make sure everything is in tip-top shape before I start the process.

The goal race is New Orleans Marathon in February. That should be plenty of time to get ready. I'm going to run the race and then overload on beignets and coffee from Cafe Du Monde. And I'm going to listen to some authentic New Orleans jazz because I didn't get to do that last time I was there.

What are some of your goals?

Tell me how you're getting back in the saddle again.

How to Set Your Glutes on Fire

Step 1: Find a Pure Barre class in your area.
Step 2: Sign up for a class.
Step 3: Go to class.
Step 4: Feel awkward gyrating your hips in front of a mirror.
Step 5: Try not to make eye contact with people close to you.
Step 6: Stretch.
Step 6: Leave Pure Barre.

via

Y'all, I seriously am having a hard time walking. Going from sitting to standing or vice versa is a total nightmare. I literally had to roll out of my bed this morning. I let out little yelps every time I have to squat down to do something at work. Sometimes I even physically pick up my legs and move them because they are so sore. I wish I was kidding about that last one.

While it doesn't look like much more than pelvis gyrating for 55 minutes, I can honestly say I got a good workout. My PT would be proud I'm working on my weak glutes, which are a pitfall for runners.

Since I've been home from work tonight, I've set myself up with a rigorous schedule of Pure Barre classes, yoga classes and running workouts. I am going to become a machine. A fit machine. Plus I know yoga made me a better runner, and I'm hoping Pure Barre will just add that little bit of glute and hip strength I need to get back to running like my old self. The things we runners do to run healthy and injury free.

Tomorrow after work I'm going to a sunset yoga class. I'm hoping it helps me stretch out my sore muscles. Lord knows I need it.

I'm also trying to eat the contents of my fridge since I'll be moving in exactly one month. Gonna be a lot of weird combos happening at my house. Like eggs with a side of rice. Or black beans and yogurt. Typing that last one made me feel a little queasy. Whatever the combo, I'll just back it up with a few of my favorite candies.

I had to pick my legs up off the couch to go get these babies from the kitchen. It was well worth it, my friends. Well worth it.

Let's Talk About the Joy

I've been thinking a lot about writing again. I should be thinking about writing my thesis, but I've been thinking about writing on this blog I created so long ago. 

It's been months since my last post. So much has changed, and yet so much is still the same. 

My favorite kid has cancer again. I didn't think I'd ever have to write that. This past week she started chemo and had an emergency surgery to fix her broken donor bone. It's been really hard for me this time around. I want her to be healthy so bad. I want her to grow up and be big and strong. I just love her so much I can barely stand it. She really is the bravest person I know. 

I got up on Saturday morning before the sun came up to run a 5K. It was my first race in over a year. I've been helping with a 5K training group at work, and it's been really amazing to see how running integrated into their lives. Each person is so different, but they came together every Tuesday and Saturday to run together. Now that's fellowship. And I absolutely love our No Boundaries group. 

I've also been working on a coffee table project. 

I've been bring this beat up old trunk back to life. It's going to make a beautiful piece of furniture in my new apartment. Yep, I said it. My new apartment. One bedroom. Hopefully with a perfect Boston Terrier puppy....if I can find one. 

I'm mixing old with new in my new place. So I bought this couch. I'm basically in love with it, and I can't wait to sit on it every day. It's the most comfortable thing ever. 

I'm kind of nervous to live by myself. I've never really wanted to do that. But it's time. Things....They are a-changin'. Which can be a good thing. Like decorating the new place. And getting a puppy dog. 

I have lots of reason to be joyful. So I'm gonna be.