Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Trench Coat Tuesday

I'll get to the story behind the post title later, first a B inspired list:
1) My birthday was the most amazing birthday I have ever had in my 23 years of life. I had Mexican food and a small party with my family. My Mom made some awesome vegan cupcakes and gave me some cool new clothes from the Gap. Next Shawn and I went to Columbia to party with my two best friends (one of which I had not seen in about a year). Shawn gave me two season of Baywatch (which I grew up watching and have always loved). I have been watching it non stop. It brings back memories of my Mom's best friend LeeAnne who dressed totally BananaRama fashion wise liking the "fluffed and buffed" Mitched Buchannon played by Davied Hasselhoff. I also like Pam Anderson because she is an activists for the environment and for animals. Not to mention she just turned forty and still looks like she did on Baywatch. I also got to finally meet PR's friend B and I thought she was awesome. PR surpised us with a yummy strawberry cake at dinner and a moonlit cruse around the lake. Ahhhh....
2. Today I went to Play It Again sports and West Marine with PR. We were going to go get some ice cream but BASKIN ROBBINS IS GONE!!! Boo Hoo. Shawn and I have had so many good dates there over the years. I told him they had gone out of business but he was not as sentimental about it as I am. He just said "well, they were out of my flavor the last time we went".
3. I recently hired a personal trainer. We have been meeting for about a month and things were going really well. He was really pushing me and teaching me all sorts of new exercises and new things to do. I know it's really fast, but I already feel like I'm showing results and have shed a few pounds. The first sign of problems was him showing up late...just fifteen mintues the first time and then 45 minutes the next (which was at 7 AM might I add, I was on time). He said he would give me two free sessions to make up for this so I said OK and wasn't mad. I like to think I'm an easy going gal. The next time we met, which was this past Thursday, he was on time and everything was fine. At the end of the session I told him I would need to see my work schedule and call him about this week. He said OK. I called him the following afternoon, Friday and got no answer. I figured since he works for himself his weekend starts Friday afternoon so didn't think much of it. I called again Sunday afternoon and left a message. Well, Monday evening rolls around and still no word. We usually meet on Tuesday so I'm not sure why I never heard from him. I'm sorry but if I am paying you as much as I am paying him for an hour, the least you can do is return my calls to let me know what is going on. I mean seriously. So since I had not heard from him I did not drive to Clemson this morning and never heard from him. I took some of the money I would have paid him today and bought some equipment he had me using (big inflatable ball and 8 pound medicine ball). I guess I'll just do my own workouts for free now. I'll never see those free sessions he promised me. At least I learned some new things. The way he went MIA on me really stinks and is just bad business. You can't treat people like that, espcially when they are paying you out the @#$ for your services.
4. Now to the story behind the post title! Today PR and I went to eat lunch at the Islander and then to pick up a khaki rain/trench coat from the dry cleaners for my Mom. We pulled up at their window in Papa's big truck and told the clerk the name. She goes back to look for it and can't find it. She I told her what the item looked like and she went to look agian. Still no success. At this point the clerk is becoming extremely visably nervous and is having bad loud nervous laughter. I called my mom to double check the details of the garment, the phone number she gave them so they could search for the item in the computer, etc. My Mom was getting really agrivated with them and wanting me to put the clerk on the phone. She was threatening to come up to the dry cleaners. She told me I had to go in and look for the item. I got out of the truck and said "Joe Hall, you better come too". We both went into the facility (which had no AC might I add) and I began to look through items on the big moving rack. I had never seen so many clothes in my life. Finally after searching for what seemed like hours, the rain/trench coat with the special lime green lining turned up. Thank goodness. I'd had to see the nervous clerk if my Mom had actually come up there like she threatened. PR was very calm throughout the entire ordeal.
I am off for the next two days and looking forward to relaxing. I am very close to completing the 400 hours required for my internship and have already gotten my manager evaluation back. I had to get evaluated by the General Manager for the internship and was worried about it. I got all 1s (excellent) except for one 3(satisfactory). I was pleased! Classess start the 23, which is about three more weeks of precious, wonderful summer. Man, what I wouldn't give to be a teenager again, babysitting, working at the Lazy Islander, having like no responsibility...those were the days. All the time to lie in the sun I wanted. Soon I'll have to be getting all my stuff organized for the move back to Columbia. I am living with a good friend until I graduate in December. She dosen't have kitchen stuff so I will be needing to go get mine out of storage at my grandparents and bring it up there. Now the only hard part of this is finding WHERE in ALL the stuff at my grandparents my kitchen stuff is, then cleaning it up as it will probably be dusty, packing it up, bringing it up there, unpacking it....sounds like fun, right?
Have a great week!! And look forward to pics from the birthday celebration and an update on my stray puppy. Her name is Addie now.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Tomorrow...

I turn 23!! Shawn has taken off today, tomorrow and Friday for our little celebration. We will be going to Columbia to celebrate with my dear friend Ekta. Should be a good time. Hopefully my friend Benson will also be able to make an appearance.
More exciting news: Dinner Saturday night with PR and O.R.P. Cant wait!

On a side note: Sunday night I was at the park running and I found a stray puppy. A man that was there running told me and my mom that he had seen a car pull up to the track and put her out. She was really pitiful so we took her home with us. We are trying to find her a good home. She is about 4 months old, black and white, short smooth coat, already housetrained and goes in a crate to sleep at night. She is very sweet and actually not too hyper for a puppy. She really loves people and is loving. I will post pictures soon and please let me know if you know of anyone looking for a dog. I can't keep her.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Note To Self:

Keep up the good work!! Today in spite of being so incredibly sore from my workout yesterday, I got up and did a yoga video before coming into work. I'm not sure if I accurately described the workout yesterday...it was to the point of dry heaves and total muscle fatigue. When I got into the Cavalier after my hour was up I had to just sit for a few minutes before I could even drive home. Every muscle in my body was shaky. It was painful and I loved it at the same time. I want to go back to school in the fall with a new body. Defined arms, sculpted abs, and shapely legs. Really the legs will be fine as they are if I can just lose some at the tops of the thighs. But I am doing plenty of lunges for that. I am totally pumped right now. I go again to workout on Wednesday and then on Friday. I'm going twice a week and working out at home the other days.

Tonight I am stuck at work...and hostessing in the restaurant here in the hotel for brunch tomorrow. Then Monday and Tuesday in Sales, which I love, then off Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for my birthday. A bit indulgent, I know. I probably won't be able to post for a few days (busy) and then going to Columbia w/ Shawn for my BIG BIRTHDAY!! 23 isn't really any sort of milestone birthday, but I am oddly excited this year. I don't know why. Maybe odd years are fun years...21 was a fun year..and no not for the reason you're thinking I got all my partying out of my system when I was much younger than 21. The year I was 21 was the year I moved to Columbia to go to USC. I lived in West Quad and it was so so nice and I had so much privacy. It was peaceful there in West Quad. It was also close to the gym. Ahhh. Well, back to my gossip magazines.
These pics are for inspiration (Jessica Simpson and Gisele)
On The Playlist
Safety Dance-Men Without Hats

Friday, July 13, 2007

A Top Notch Day

Although today was Friday the 13th I had a first rate day. To begin with I had a great day yesterday. I worked in Sales with my co-worker/mentor M. I just flet really productive all day. Some days I feel totally unfocused (which is why I can soo relate to some of B's posts and envy her new adderall prescription) and get nothing accomplished. Yesterday was not one of those days at all.
This moring I got up and ate breakfast, took care of Morgan and went to work out. I had the most intense workout of my life. I was dry heaving I worked out so hard today. I did abs, running and jump rope just to name a few. For an hour! I am giving up alcohol, coffee, and dairy also. I have decided I am definately lactose intollerant. I am working on losing about 10 pounds and getting totally hard defined abs. I also don't eat bread anymore. After my super workout I watched the Young and the Restless. Then Mom and I watched Because I Said So with Dianne Keaton and Mandy Moore. It wasn't anything too special but it was cute. Next I took an hour long nap.
This evening Shawn and I went on a date. We had chinese at Master Wok in Anderson (no fried food for me though) and dessert at Baskin Robbins (little tiny scoop for me, big scoops for Shawn). We rented two movies from BlockBuster. He got Smokin Aces (I was not impressed) and I got Come Early Morning starring Ashely Judd. I loved it. It was a really good film about a woman dealing with family, dating and substance abuse with a good ending.
Good news: the sun really is good for you. Studies have now come out stating that sun exposure can aid in the prevention of many types of cancer (although it still causes skin cancer). The good effects of the sun have to do with the body producing Vitamin D when you are in sunlight. This is good news to me! Tomorrow I plan on lying out, weather permitting. I always wear SPF on my face, big sunglasse and a hat...b/c I don't want age spots.
Now for the only bad part about today: I think I may have injured myself doing my frog leaps during my workout. My right ankle is swellling and getting blue :(
Summer is great...so have a great weekend and enjoy it!
Coming up:Shawn and I go to Columbia to celebrate my big birthday with Kita....23...and I'm doing it up right!
On The Playlist
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy 4th of JULY!!!!!!!!


Today is Independence Day-may yours be a great one! July is my absolute favorite month of the whole year. I don't know this little girl, but I thought she is so cute. I did a google for images of fireworks and sparklers. I love sparklers and fireworks. They are under appreciated. I had actually planned on scanning a picture of my grandfather in his Navy uniform and one of Shawn in his marine uniform for my patriotic post, but never got around to it. Still everyone should know they are my two favorite veterans (and both wartime veterans, not to mention Shawn is hott). I can brag that when Shawn was in the marines he made sargeant in only three years. My grandfather was a career military man and is now retired. And THANK YOU to all those who are serving and have served in the military. I could not even imagine if Shawn was still in the military right now. I think he sort of wishes he still was. If he was I would make the best of it. I can't imagine how much I would worry, and how families feel that do have a loved one overseas. Shawn can't be recalled anymore, his last year to be recalled was 2000.
I'm working until 3 then off to my good friend LuLu's for swimming and festivities. Don't forget to take a moment today to be grateful for all you have and remember those who are serving right now and can't be with their families today.
On The Patriotic Playlist
Red, White, and Blue-Lynard Skynard