Put Out

Posted on March 19, 2018 by TheJessicaness
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Piggy

Put forth what you want from the universe and it shall provide. It may sound cliché, but it’s working for me. I woke up feeling and looking great and took that energy to the gym to improve my 5k runtime to 29:33 and get in some weights and socializing too.

Caleb went to the USS Alabama with some of the guys today and I always enjoy when he’s able to explore new things, even if I’m not there. Plus, I remember going with my dad over ten years ago — when I was a decade of difference of a person.

I had yummy oatmeal and pineapple for breakfast and listened to classical music on the ride to school while thinking about the tire pressure light that came on and then went off again — so that’s on the to-do list.

I get to class and am not ready to listen to the professor for an hour and lucky me we have a guest speaker today, Kalina Cardoso, to talk about her progress and the lessons she has learned through Yelp, fliers, schools, determination, and a list of ex-employers.

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3rd graders with interns

From there, I enjoy some quinoa with carrots and bell pepper for lunch before arriving to McGill to talk about planting blueberries, kale, garlic, and mint in the garden. I’m glad to see that the school is growing and the kids are learning.

I got free purple kale from the grocery store yesterday because the cashier didn’t know what it was and today got grapes and cheese as a healthy snack for my ride home and a treat to share with the dogs before their afternoon walk.

I made a plethora of salad with an egg in one bowl and a banana in the next for dinner and then had a great conversation with Caleb before taking an extra steamy shower… so many ways to distract myself from doing homework.

I work on my resume and PowerPoint and plan for the convention this week and socialize a bit more before I feel like reading and message my dad. I brush my teeth and realize I still need to blog, for so many reasons.

What do you put out into the world? And what are you getting back?

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Social Shower Sunday

Posted on March 18, 2018 by TheJessicaness

18 Days of March:

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new housemate

1) I bought a sports ball pump and 24 jerseys (12 blue and 12 yellow) to make recess a more fair and fast process when picking teams; and am in the process of buying six youth basketballs with a mesh bag (I’ve forwarded the invoice to my boss).

2) We got our 4th Mighty Nest delivery — two snack-size Duralex glass dishes.

3) I completed my first two miles on the Curve treadmill in 25 minutes and burned 535 calories, or so the machine tells me. It’s a great mix between in/outdoors for pacing.

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Legos before school

4) I walked the neighbor’s kids to school every morning for two weeks, and ran back home with their dog, and they called me one morning to wake me up.

5) I’ve been working on stretching, my resume, and building power points for class. The first one is a behavioral change so I can better understand what my clients will be going through. I’ve chosen to do 10 minutes a day for six weeks and am stretching more often.

I have to build a resume as 40% of my grade, but also as something to get me a job in the future as I continue to improve my Linked-In account. I have almost weekly presentations with different partners to get me used to working with varying personalities and public speaking, so that I stand out to my clientele.

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pulmonary powerpoint

6) I’ve learned that: sometimes it’s easier to copy your Facebook post to express your feelings for your Mother’s anniversary:

When you wake up feeling sad and blame it on PMS, but it’s too soon. You surround yourself with happy things.. healthy food, happy kids, fit classmates, peanut butter, a sweaty run, a paycheck, blind dogs, sunshine, a hot shower, a spicy meal, a sappy film..

Oh wait, then you remember why you’ve been feeling down all day as the memories of your mother and your last time with some of the family together plays through your mind as tears and snot drown your outfit in all the emotions you’ve been holding in all day, but trying to release. It’s three years later, but the way I’m feeling it could be the day after. I love you Mom.

7) I created a fundraiser on Facebook to buy new fitness equipment, garden supplies, and lesson materials to help the kids learn and play but had no luck raising even a dollar. I’ll have to call in the big name companies to donate and teach the kids to take care of what they have now.

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leprechaun slides down and can’t climb out

8) I got to see my first leprechaun trap, something I don’t remember doing in school.

9) I ran my first 5k in five months and finished in 29:55. I still can’t curl my toe all the way or do a proper lunge, but I’m making fantastic progress otherwise.

10) I got invited to an after school lip-sync battle among kids aged 8-10 and some performances were cute, one emotionally moving, and two that showed these kids watch too much YouTube (and not the good channels).

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that face your husband makes when you send food pics

11) I went to dinner at Cafe Coyote in Old Town with some staff from McGill and the teacher that organized it was sure to invite everyone from janitor to principal and even the YMCA staff of which two showed up to equal about 15. Two spouses, a boyfriend, and a roommate also joined for an entertaining evening.

Then we went to Old Town Improv Co. because one of the guys in the show used to work at the school and we were here to support him and to deliver 20 cards from 1st graders that thanked him for being kind and drew wonderful descriptive pictures of his likeness. The show was 80 minutes long and we, especially me, laughed out loud the whole time.

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cute card

12) I got a certificate of completion for The Hidden Messages in Food from the IDEA Health and Fitness Assc. and learned about the traits of food, the importance of eating inline with nature, and how food affects our chakras.

13) I learned about sensory deprivation tanks, of which there are three locations in San Diego — closer than the anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minnesota.

14) I learned about Treacher Collins syndrome which somehow led me to an episode of Mr. Rogers, a show I wish was still on TV along with Reading Rainbow and The Magic Schoolbus. I also learned about Harlequin Ichthyosis which reminds me that I have a million reasons to be grateful every day.

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all the nut butters!

15) I bought seven new peanut butters, one sunflower, one almond, and one cashew. I’ve also started taking a mix of vitamins (working on my B’s and D) and the dogs take a multi and glucosamine to aid in their senior status.

16) Caleb has been gone two weeks and I just bought groceries to get me through the week before I go to Phoenix to see my dad; it has been eight months.

17) I finished one book, but am currently reading 3.5 others along with required articles and research for school and other interesting finds.

18) I talked with my dad, which makes me happy as usual, so I should find more time to do it. I can blame not visiting on my broken toe, but I didn’t break all my fingers too.

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Dr. Suess at McGill

19) I’ve accumulated 20 hours with Youth to the Core and teaching the kids about basketball, peer pressure, stretching and cramps, proper nutrition, and respect.

20) I’m getting stronger, earning 11 trophies in FitNotes, so I increased my goals!

Q&A a Day: In three words, describe your spirituality: stack of books.

Posted in Animals, Books, Education, Family, fitness, Food, Friends, Holidays, Media, Volunteer | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Today is the Tenth!

Posted on March 6, 2018 by TheJessicaness

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I woke up to Sparky’s old face; he’ll be 11 years old next month. Caleb messaged me a reminder that we’ve been married ten years today and I thanked him for putting up with me for almost 13 years and said I would be willing to try for another ten; time flies.

I made an egg, spinach, banana, mocha almond butter sandwich for breakfast and ace my test about cardiovascular diseases — all which say to exercise and burn up to 2,000 calories a week (who measures that?) — before going to the school to try out the green and blue pinnies I bought for the kids (which fit third graders and below — and me).

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My legs are tired from improving my mile-and-a-half runtime by 2 min and 41 sec this week and I went too heavy on the incline bench and used my feet to help me re-rack the bar. I arrive home to a Mantry delivery of chorizo, sriracha pretzels, cocktail mix, chimichurri rub, hatch chile ketchup, and chocolate.

I walk the dogs and am invited to dinner next door, even though I have leftovers and was craving tacos from Salud! (which I forgot to get on the way home). While over there I learned that baby whales have to hold their breath during birth until they reach the surface or they’ll drown and that they can gain weight at a rate of ten pounds per hour.

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I brought home leftovers for my salad tomorrow and some for puppies with their dinner; and was gifted two pairs of reversible exercise pants, complete with pocket. Dogs and husband are sleeping, so it’s homework, looking at food, and reading before bed for me.

I had another post planned for today, but it will be appropriate for any day on after (at least until the 20th anniversary). Oh, and I can finally tell you what the gift I opened on February 7th was.. an aluminum necklace that says “I love you” in ASL.

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It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

Posted on February 27, 2018 by TheJessicaness

… and my old man won’t be snoring in my bed tonight, but busy babysitting a ship overnight as they continue to not do their job properly.

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I’ve been absent a few days due to a change in schedule. Caleb is supposed to be gone for work on our 10th wedding anniversary and leaves the weekend prior, so he wanted to do something special this past weekend (but to start on Thursday).

I walked the neighbor’s kids to school, went to class to teach other’s how to do a push up (practice one-on-one training), dropped off supplies and other interns at the school before going to my follow-up appointment about my upper back. The doctor says I need to stretch, get deep tissue massages, try fire cupping (often), and gave me a list of exercises to do because between my neck and shoulders the muscles are tight.

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I drove from there to Planet Fitness for my second informational interview with Amber. I will need to take my writing from college to third grade level for my professor so that she can check that I answered all the questions properly. I finished that and arrived home to Caleb in a nice shirt and his fancy shoes. I put on jeans and a sweater.

We stayed in a hotel with a jacuzzi tub within walking distance of a pizza bar and had homemade chocolate covered strawberries back in the room to go with the peach champagne, brownies, and bubble bath. Caleb tried a Ghost of Anniversaries Past idea, so things I won’t share here, but it included cookies, Uber, the mall, and three beds.

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He booked the hotel for two nights (Saturday wasn’t available), so we went to the gym Friday morning, I went to school for another workout (Techniques of Weight Training), and then did data entry at work while the kids put on a musical show. I arrived to the hotel to new drinks, my smallest bikini, and some good smelling lotion.

Saturday was spent mostly in bed. We had met at the hotel and were meant to return one car home, but had too much fun the night before and cancelled our drive to Knott’s Berry Farm. Sunday was used to do homework and update/transfer data to my new phone. I drove to school Monday with a golden spider and dropped my old phone in the mailbox on the way home.

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Today I stopped by Caleb’s office on my way to the gym where I’d celebrate my first run in five months (19.5 weeks). I focused on my stride and how it felt to run at varying speeds. My shins felt it more than my toe, but now my legs can get used to the pressure again and I can increase my speed, incline, and distance.

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31 Flavors, 32 Questions

Posted on February 25, 2018 by TheJessicaness

japancream

1.) Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
I only have one door and it stays closed to keep Sparky out.

2.) Do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels?
Only if I use them so they don’t go to waste. I take soap bars too.

3.) Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
I tuck them in so Sparky doesn’t pull them off the bed and it keeps Caleb and I from                      stealing them from each other.

4.) Have you ever stolen a street sign?
I’ve earned one by adopting highway in Florida.

5.) Do you cut out coupons and then never use them?
I never liked what was being sold.

6.) Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?
I’ve survived a swarm of hornets (thanks lil brother).

7.) Do you always smile for pictures?
Mostly, especially if I know they’re being taken.

8.) Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
Sometimes, but more like you count notes on sheet music.

9.) Have you ever peed in the woods?
Every time I’m there.

10.) Do you still watch cartoons?
I don’t have a schedule or a show, but it happens.

11.) Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
Well if I told you, it wouldn’t be hidden anymore.

12.) What do you drink with dinner?
Water, kombucha, mushroom matcha.

13.) What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
The trash.

14.) What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
The ones that make me laugh, make me think, and inspire me.

15.) Were you ever a girl scout?
For one day.

16.) Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
I can pose. I can’t dance.

17.) Can you change the oil in your car?
If I had to, but I’ve rarely had to change my tires.

18.) Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Yes, in more than one country.

19.) Afraid of heights?
Nope, I like getting close to the edge.

20.) Do you sing in the car?
Definitely when I’m alone.

21.) Is Christmas stressful?
Nope, it’s a time to travel and appreciate the beauty of life.

22.) Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid.
Teacher, veterinarian, psychiatrist.

23.) Do you believe in ghosts?
No, but I suppose I never met Santa either.

24.) The first concert you ever went to.
That’s a good question, most-visited venue though: The Norva

25.) Wal-Mart, Target, or Kmart?
Wal-Mart mostly; it’s closer

26.) Nike or Adidas?
Adidas was the 90s and Nike is today

27.) Can you curl your tongue?
Yes I can, like a pita taco.

28.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
Yes, it’s a cute feeling.

29.) The last concert you saw?
An elementary school show in honor of Black History Month.

30.) Can you swim well?
No, but I can not drown for a while.

31.) Can you knit of crochet?
I can knit a bit thanks to Caroline.

32.) Are you a dog person or a cat person?
I’m an on my last two dogs I’ll ever own person

Thanks to Kat for the inspiration via an old blog post.

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