I see another novel in my future...

     I think I am going to write a novel based on my upcoming excursion to the UK and call it In Search of Mr. Darcy.
     I'm hoping for it to be more creative non-fiction more so than fiction. haha. Either way, I'm digging the title.
     Just a thought.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'm Leaving, Tomorrow!

Don't lie. You just sang along with the title of this blog, didn't you?? Haha, don't feel bad, so did I.    
    Okay, so it's finally here. I leave tomorrow night on a red-eye flight to London, England, my new home for the next four months. All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go. (Oh man, I'm really on a roll. Teehee.) I'm getting a little nervous but overall, I think I'm ready. Especially since I'm armed with some valium just in case I have a panic attack. (I'm only a little kidding.)
    To be honest, I'm not really nervous per se, just anxious. I just want to be there already. All of this preparation and waiting and running around is exhausting - both physically and mentally. I am just ready to be settled in and start my adventure. But then again, I guess this is all part of the 'adventure' so I really need to embrace it.
    Hmm... what else? Oh! I just want to say how incredibly blessed I feel to have such awesome friends and family who rally behind me no matter how far off the deep end I dive. I can't get over the outpouring of love and support that has been non-stop since I concocted this crazy idea (and have been there through all of my crazy ideas - and trust me, I've had a few!). I truly am so lucky. And I believe that it is because of this love and support that I feel like I can do these kinds of things and take these kinds of leaps because I know that no matter what happens, I'll be welcomed home with open arms and a strong drink. And there's no better comfort than that!

Two Weeks?!? Where Did My Summer Go?!?

   
      Ok, so I leave for London two weeks from tomorrow. HO. LY. COW. How is it here already? Not that I'm not excited, but dude, I thought that I had ALL SUMMER to prepare for this endeavor and POOF, summer's almost over and being a procrastinator has once again kicked me in the ass.
I haven't packed a thing.
I just booked my accommodation today for my first week of stay.
I still need to figure out my health insurance situation.
What the hell is 'power of attorney'?!?
Call my banks to inform them of my trip?
I renewed my passport, right?
How am I getting all of my makeup in my suitcase??
Ahhhhh!!!!
     I thought all I had to do was get on a plane and then run around England like an idiot! (This is still not far from the reality of what I envision is actually going to happen, FYI.) Responsibility? Logistics? Dammit all. Not that I'm complaining, because I promise, I'm not. I'm super excited. Really. I'm just having the perfunctory pre-huge-life-altering-experience meltdown. No biggie. Anyway, so now that I've secured that I have a place to go to once I get off the plane, I think I'm in better shape and can thus, relax a little bit. The rest is just gravy, right?
    It's already midnight?? Oh sweet Jesus...

It's Official - I'm Off to a New Chapter of My Life!

     So the big news that I couldn't reveal a few weeks ago is that I tendered my resignation at my job and am preparing a voyage to the great unknown! This, I know, is a little crazy. For one, in today's job market, no one in their right mind would leave a job without having another already in line. But I've never claimed to be in my 'right mind' so, there goes that. Also, by not having another job lined up, my lack of health insurance kind of puts me in a lurch, which is a little freaking terrifying.
      But for some inexplainable reason based on a feeling I can't ignore, I know that this is the right decision for me. And in even bigger news, I am contemplating moving somewhere far, far away... like London. Maybe Florence? Or Montreal? Prague? I don't know, but that's what's so exciting! I have nothing really tying me down here. I'm not married. I don't have kids. I have a family that will support and love me no matter where I go. And I have always had an insatiable need to explore along with a wild hoard of ants-in-my-pants that have never enabled me to sit still for long. It all adds up to a perfect reason for me to go and live a little. I've spent too much time putting my life on hold for too many reasons. First it was my weight. Then my family obligations. And my schooling. And my job responsibilities. And so on and so on...

     The prospects of the next few months are exciting. The promise of new adventures and new people keeps my mind content while I finish up my last few weeks here at work. The only pitfall is that, depending on where I go, I may not be able to work without a work visa, which would severely deplete the funds I've worked so hard to save. I clearly don't want to blow my nest-egg in only a few months, but if I don't spend (some of) it now on a big adventure, then I could conceivably die with all my money just sitting in a bank somewhere and me never taking the chance to really live. I do understand that I need to be responsible, but I've spent my whole life being responsible and I want to test my wings and my own fortitude to just do something that I want to do without over-analyizing the crap out of it. And hey, if it doesn't work out, I'm a one-way ticket away from life as I've always known it. So what do I have to lose? Nothing, that's what. So I'm researching, and planning, and getting very excited about the next stage of my life. Wish me luck!

A Brand New Adventure To Come...

     I can't say much about it right now, but I am planning a BIG adventure. Like huge. Like possibly life-altering. (No, not a sex change or space travel, don't get crazy with yourselves.) But something that I have really always wanted to do and have been too pragmatic (and, I'll admit, maybe too scared) to actually pursue. I can't speak about it yet (sorry to be cryptic) but as soon as I can, I'll post an update. Oooh, a cliffhanger! So stay tuned.... it's gonna be good!

Here We Go Again...

    So here we are, already deep in the throes of Spring. Man, how did that happen? Wasn't it just New Year's? Sheesh. Well, maybe I lost track of time (and my life) because, as always, life is too busy to even describe. But one of the reasons for my hiatus (in blogging and in my fitness) is that I had my gallbladder removed back at the end of January and recovery was, let's just say, less than fun. (Yay for hyperbole!)
     As I may have mentioned, I am a full-time high school teacher, for which I had to be out for almost two weeks, so catching up on things was challenging. And I am also a full-time grad student, with a rigorous curriculum that was kicking my incapacitated ass! Fitness? Healthy living? What is that? Sadly, I am one of those people, that when stressed out, eats anything I can get my hands on - chips, fast food, small children... anything convenient really. And so thankfully, though I haven't noticed a great increase on the scale (a few pounds at most) I have felt friggin' awful. It's been hard regaining my energy, but I'm certain that my lack of diligence in watching what I eat and by not nourishing my body with good foods, I am just allowing myself to fall more and more behind the eight ball. Anyway, so no more excuses. I really gotta get back on track. And not just for the weight aspect, but because I FEEL LIKE CRAP! And I'm noticing more and more that it's a vicious cycle. If you don't take care of yourself, you feel like crap. And because you feel like crap, you don't wanna take care of yourself. You see, there it is, problem solved. I just need to break the cycle!
     My sister, who has always been super buff, was recently telling me about a three-day cleanse that worked wonders for her. Now, ordinarily, I don't buy into these 'quick-fix' theories. Trust me, after spending my whole life overweight, I've pretty much tried'em all and still ended up no better than I had started (and often, even worse!) But she tried it and said that she found it to be successful and I really want to purge my body of all the crap in there. (Not literally... well, I mean, I guess literally too, but more metaphorically. haha.) Once she forwards it to me, I'll post it and then post updates. I anticipate that I'll begin it Monday.

Update: Clearly, I didn't do the cleanse or else I would have written about it. But basically, it looked disgusting - like eat four hot dogs for breakfast kind of disgusting. Yeah, I might just want to get my ass running again instead. What kind of "cleanse" wants you to eat four hot dogs or even one hot dog for that matter?!? Don't they know what's in those things. Gross.

The Hurricane Slump...

       So it has been about two and a half weeks since the Mudder and I have officially done NOTHING in the way of exercise or activity. Literally nothing. At first I was blaming it on "healing time" - seeing as I was so sore I couldn't even blink without feeling the pain radiate down my body. Then Hurricane Sandy hit and the gym was closed for a week. No power. No heat. No nuthin'.  With that, I was off of school for the week, lounging around being a lazy bum, and to be honest, fitness was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I ate my face off out of boredom. And now I have a wicked cold that has moved into my chest and just breathing while sitting is difficult.
    Let me explain, I am trying not to sound like a pathetic complainer. I am just stating that I am clearly in a slump and now, without the motivation of the Mudder to get me to move my ass, I am going to need to find something new to get me moving. Tri season is over. The Mudder is behind me and now I need a new fitness endeavor. Any ideas??
     I want to swim, but the nearest aquatic center charges an arm and a leg for membership... no seriously, it's ridiculous! And to pay for that on top of my gym membership is a little crazy. Plus it's not very close. So instead, I think that I really want to find one of those boot camp programs to try. I have several friends who have done it and are addicted! They are stronger than they've ever been. Motivated. Energetic. And, best of all, excited about working out! Let me tell you, I would LOVE to get excited about working out... so we'll see what I can find. The other thing I was thinking was one of those "Turbo Fire" or "Insanity" workout video systems, but I have a feeling that it would end up functioning as a coaster instead of in my DVD player, so that might not work out. Anyone got any good ideas??