The Lenten Saga: Day 22

I am still at work as I am typing this...

Cold, tired, hungry.

I am losing my energy. Will I be able to make it home?

I have so many things going on in my head. Everything is a blur... As a matter of fact, everything is beginning to get really blurry. This work must get done. No one else can do it but me. At least I found some time to work out my legs today, and boy did I give them one hell of a workout. Every part of my lower body was very tender coming out of the gym... I need food... I need water. My head is getting lighter. It is hard to focus on a lot of things. I need to do my caterpillar readings.... I am usually done by Wednesday for whatever we will be talking about on Saturday, but I am falling behind. It is hard to multitask, but I need to find a balance. I do not know how much longer I am going to last. I feel like sleeping here! But I can not! I must leave! I think I will go to the salsa social at 9... That should give me a little energy... enough to make it back to the Containment Area.

Lord, Help Me.

The Lenten Saga: Day 16

What a busy day!

Thursdays are my busiest day's out of the week. I guess it is because I have so much going on. In and out of work, with choir and working out... Plus running errands does not make the day any less busy. I got a lot done at work today but I still need to do more. Looks like I will be coming in on the weekend to get it all done! Such has been the way of things. Deadlines are tight, resources, tighter, time is a luxury no one seems to have... Wow, I have not even went salsa dancing in a long time! I will remedy that Saturday... wow, That is going to be a busy day too!

Well, I guess that is good, I am very active... No couch potato-isms here! Plus I am not in my apartment long enough to enjoy the craptacular one I have in my living room. Still looking at furniture for my new place... I want to get decent stuff... I will be here for awhile. I do want to live somewhat comfortably. Exciting times, busy times!

And somehow I survived 16 days of Lent! Hmm, have not received email about Caterpillar this weekend... I guess I will send out a reminder.

To day 17!

The Lenten Saga: Day 14

The day after the night before...

Yesterday, I was upset at some things that were happening around me. Today, I felt a little better, even though my day started off rocky. I could tell that a lot of things were on my mind from yesterday, and even earlier this morning when I got checked in (body measurements etc...) at the site gym for another upcoming general fitness competition. Even though I lost a lot of weight, and I do mean A LOT of weight, I had an elevated blood pressure of 140/80, which is basically hypertension. I am very confident that it was due to earlier events that happened in my day! I might have my blood pressure re-taken again because I know was not in the right of moods, and though it showed a lot on the outside, I took steps to make sure the least amount of people saw it.

Anger is a controlled emotion. I remember being told as a child that being angry was a sin. But I remember something that Father Massingale said at the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim one year... He said (or he might have been quoting this from someone, I think St. Thomas Aquinas), that anger is not a sin, it is an emotion, but there are sins against anger.

So I did what I have got accustomed to when I am not in the right of mind... I went to the gym. Today was cardio day, and I let it all out on the machines. I tried to keep my heart rate around 160, but there were multiple instances when it went above 170, which is the heart rate zone I try to avoid at all costs.

I will say, in all fairness to all sides, that my issue was resolved, and everyone reconciled. I will do what is necessary to put this all behind me. No "if's, and's or but's" about it. I am a part of a team, and I will do my part, and contribute to the best of my ability. This will not destroy me.

Still have not broken Lent. Still maintaining my Lenten commitments. I will pray to the Lord to help me through.

The Lenten Saga: Day 13

I am going to sum up my day in one sentence:

I hate it when people ask me to do things, and I do it for them, but when it is my turn, and I even say PLEASE it does not get done.

The Lenten Saga: Day 1

So today was a long day! From getting up early, to getting to church, and getting "ashed!" to several meetings, working out, fighting my electronic equipment in the lab since it wants to act crazy (I am slowly winning that battle! hehe), and then, get this... BACK to church to sing with the choir! 

Today marks the first day of Lent, a period of fasting and abstaining, calling to mind our sinfulness and our call to repent from our ways. So this year, I have decided to challenge myself way more than I have done in previous years. Now I will not go any further in terms of what I have given up, or what I have committed to, but it is a decent sized list. I know this: I would not have attempted this during the OSU or Southern Cal years, period! Since I have a normally routine schedule, I can establish a little bit more discipline, with ease. 

I really want to take this time before Easter and REALLY answer some tough questions, not only about the faith, but about my life. Where is it heading? Why am I single? What is my current assignments in my career preparing me for? Where are my friends? How badly do I want certain things? How long will I be here (Containment Area..... okay, Earth as well)? What better way to seek clarity, than to seek out the Lord and Savior in my daily devotions? So during this time, I will make a stronger, more concentrated effort (in addition to what I am currently doing), to deepen my relationship with Christ. With the help of the church, and those who wish to help me, I will either find my answers, or will be on the path to finding my answers.

So says this Yankee! Let the Lenten Journey Begin!

My Thursday Formula For a Disasterous Friday

What do you get when you add...

work at 8:30 AM
plus
work through lunch
plus
leave work at 6:00 pm
plus
choir practice at 7:00 pm
plus
going back to work around 9:00 pm
plus not getting back home until like, geez, I dunno, I dunno... Maybe 10:30-ish (and that is if everything I need to do back at work gets done correctly)

equals.... Drumroll Please..................

ME NOT GETTING UP AT 5 AM!

Remember last week, with the whole chain of events that just knocked me out of sync? Well, this week, it is not as bad, and only Friday will be affected... Giving me Saturday and Sunday to recuperate!

We will see what unfolds...

Monday (not) Madness

Still in a state of Euphoria after the superbowl win, but Monday was 'business as usual.' Pretty boring and predictable... Work, eat, workout, eat, etc... I really have nothing better to write. So I think I will just stop here. Plus I am tired, period. I need some sleep.

Heres to a better Tuesday!

Busy Day, Busy Night!

Wow, what a day! Not only did I get into work very early, I got out... VERY LATE! I just got in the apartment, and I am just starting dinner... Oh, and here is the best part... I AM NOT DONE WORKING YET!!! I just have to do one last (little) thing work-related and then I can enjoy the rest of my evening.

So while I have some chicken (3 separate pieces, one seasoned with lemon and herb, one seasoned with Caribbean Jerk, one seasoned with plain chicken seasoning) baking in the oven, rice cooking, and veggies steaming, I am going to take a very quick break and write this entry.

So I was telling some of my co-workers about yesterday's blog posting, and they were all dying! It was one of those things that you have to hear for yourself to get the full effect of the conversation I had with this client. Personally, I thought it was hilarious. When I look back at my top 10 memories for the year, I think this one will stick out (it will definitely be a top 10). 

I have officially started my house hunting adventure, by taking a huge step towards home ownership... I called the mortgage people. And guess what? Yours truly is in there! I was so surprised on how much of a buyers market this is, and the rate I got was, to me, phenomenal! Now I will not divulge personal financial information, but lets just say that, it is looking REALLY good!

I found an area in the Containment Area that I really-really like. For several reasons:

1. It is very close to a major highway! :-D

2. It is very close to work! :-D

3. To get to my church, I literally make one left turn and one right turn... GAME OVER! :-D

4. There is a GREAT grocery store nearby :-D :-D :-D

5. It is in a developing community that will be well established by the time I sell my home several years down the road. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

But of course, I am open to living in other areas outside the Containment Area. As long as it is close to where I work, a major highway, and church. It is going to be difficult for other areas to match this subdivision. But we shall see!

Now I have to go! I have to get back in the kitchen and then get this one last work item done, maybe I can eat... One thing is for certain... Lights out at 9!

Peace!