Monthly Archives: July 2010

Day 11:
Introduce yourself to someone you know but have never spoken with….

This is a tough challenge for me because I talk to EVERYONE. I opted to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce myself to the fellow that works at the Stop N Go. He is there EVERY single time I go there but he rarely talks back to me. So today’s challenge was an effort to get him to talk to ME. I went in to purchase a Diet Coke and said “Hi, it’s totally crazy that I don’t know your name, right?” Smile. Silence. “I’m Kelly.”
He replies, “I remember when you guys moved in, it’s been about six months now?” Still no name out of my friendly Stop N Go cashier. So, I tried another tactic.
“Do you work every day open to close? I’ve never been in here when you’re not working. I feel like I should know your name.”

He smiles. Tells me his name.

Edited to add: I confess, five days later…. I went in this morning to get a soda. He said “Hello, Kelly!” and I smiled and waved… and I don’t for the life of me remember. So I feel like a heel….. while I may have succeeded at introducing myself to a stranger, I felt like a dipshit for failing to recall his name.

Day 9: Do “Something” before breakfast.”

My alarm went off at 5:35 as it has every day for the last ten days or so.  But this morning instead of deciding that my back hurt too damn bad to get up and “do something” I elected to peel my creaky body out of bed and “do something.”   [In truth I snoozed two times… so it was 5:53.  And I had considered changing my plans.  There are two things that make me incredibly happy, make my day smooth sailing, put a smile on my face, on my flushed, sweaty face.  Given the grumblings from the other side of the bed I was not going to get anywhere with my other something “to do.”] So I got up, got dressed, found my neglected running shoes and got my act together.

Look how thrilled I was about this.  The upside of getting up and out the door before it is stifling hot outside but after is no longer dark that is I decided to forego the gym and WALK around the neighborhood.  I hate walking.  But in light of the fact that I have been nearly immobilized by my recent efforts to run too far, too fast, too often I elected to take a walk.   About 15 minutes in to my walk I realized that I was sweating, and maybe this wasn’t so lame.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was not hideously hot outside.  I engaged in an internal struggle to not start running.  But in an effort to stay true to my efforts at knocking out Day 8’s challenge today (avoid addictive things) I did not pick up the pace and run.  Even though I wanted to so very badly…

So today’s challenge was right on time.  I got back on the morning exercise horse.  Even though I’d rather have ridden somethign else.

I feel good about today.  So, did day 9 change my life, nope.  But it got me back on track. So fuck yeah, Day 9.  Thanks for the kick in the ass.  And also, thank you to wherever the weather really comes from.  Because by 7 am it was only two degrees warmer.  

Wow.  And thanks to the kid at the pool whom I no longer remember that first pointed out that my head totally looks like an egg.  You’ve really given me somethign to focus some of my self-loathing on, something that is totally unchangeable…  That’s one smiling egg shaped head having girl right there.

Day 8.  Cut out addictive substances for the day and see how much purer you feel.

Today I am going caffeine and soda free.  So far, so good.   I am stubborn enough to cut somethign out for eh day on principle.  I struggle with life-long decisions, with absolutes, I suppose.  I can always imagine a circumstance where it would be appropriate to change my mind.

So, how “pure” do I feel?  Pretty damn pure.  I have had a gajillion glasses of water thus far today.  That has to be helping.  And I got some exercise in this morning, so I suspect that it to credit both for the smile on my face and the thirst that is motivating my water chugging… So Day 8.  Eh.  Hasn’t changed my life.  But it has been the reminder I perhaps needed that I am happier when I am treating myself and my body with the respect it deserves.

Roughly, of course, but with infinite tenderness….

It wasn’t 1:56. But it was close. And I was at work. That counts for something, right?

And since we have had no A/C (fixed now but still quite warm in here) I guess my red face didn’t really garner much attention when I emerged from the bathroom. Because of course there was NO ONE here when I skipped out on mental vacation. And everyone has come back from lunch now. Pardon the expression.

I bet my lunch was better than their lunch. I’m still grinning.

Fantasy was lame. Had to rearrange a few things…. but I liked this line “Roughly, of course, but with infinite tenderness….”

And yeah… there’s no accompanying picture for this post.

Edited to add: World land speed record. 4 minutes start to finish.

Day 5: Print this Out Of Order sign and stick it somewhere.

I sucked at this challenge. I can’t print at home, so I made an Out of Order sign. And I carried it around with me all weekend and it never got stuck anywhere. At first I thought it would be funny to stick it on the sign in the parking lot at Target that says “These premises are monitored by a camera.” But I didn’t want to explain to Emily all day long why I had climbed up the pole. I considered sticking it on my nether regions as they have been out of order for seemingly FOREVER but in a miracle of miracles my week and some change long period halted long enough for Saturday morning “cartoons” to be enjoyed.
So, yeah… I had planned on trying to complete this challenge. And then I came in to work this morning to find that we had no A/C. I think that is punishment from the “This Book Will Change Your life” gods. “Oh yeah, you think you can just do your challenges when you feeeel like it. Well, we’ll show you. How do you like your air conditioning out of order? Still think you can just carry around that sign??”

So Day 5 was a miss. But I have been punished.

So when I started reading the challenge I so very much hoped it said “the opening line to your MUSICAL” because when I was about seven years old I penned this line…

“I’m HILARIOUS, I’m GREGARIOUS…”

and yeah… that’s still all I’ve got. And it still makes me giggle every time I think about it.

Today’s challenge featured a map of the world and simple directions –  color in those countries to which you have been a certain color, those you’re planning to visit this year, and those that you plan to visit before you die, and those that you don’t care to see.

Today’s challenge was pretty easy for me.  I’ve only been a few places.  And all of those places were a port on a cruise to somewhere… so I really don’t feel like I have been there.  Jamaica, Mexico, The Grand Caymans, BVI, Puerto Rico, Belize… I know I am leaving some out.  Cruise travel is great for spending time with a person, talking, laughing, eating, drankin’… not so good for really seeing a country, meeting people, eating local food…

Where would I like to go?  There are still Vitos in Italy.  (My mother’s maiden name, my grandfather is second generation American born, I believe.)  There are Bresnahans in Ireland.  I’d like to go to both of those places.   I’d like to go to France and drink wine and eat cheese and take walks and fall in love with a certain someone all over again… but not until we are old and gray.  (Or perhaps when I am old and gray and he is still dashing and younger than me. :wink.) Because I think there’s a time for travel to a place that is outside of your comfort zone, perhaps a time when you’re trying to redefine who you are, who you are to the person with whom you are traveling….

Is there anywhere I can say i’d not like to go?  Nope.  I’m pretty game for anything typically.

Will I be going anywhere out of the country this year?  Nope.

My thoughts on traveling and the little lady?  There is so much of this country I have still not seen.  So much to be proud of, to be grateful for, to be in awe of… we’ll see a good bit of that hand in hand before we set off on an international voyage, I think.

I’d like to see the Grand Canyon for my 40th birthday.  I think turning 40 will frighten me.  That perhaps I will wonder if I have done enough.  I imagine standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon will make me feel small.  And that feeling of smallness will remind me how very much I have done.  Even though I am so very, very small.