Saturday Video Update

Labels: family, friends, reading, school, spiritual seeking

posted by Miss Rachel 5/10/2008 07:54:00 PM

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Hee hee. This is too funny, especially the part about talking about talking rabbits. My sweetie would definitely say that's true. Except the ones I talk about are Buns and Chou Chou.

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Labels: memes, rabbits

posted by Miss Rachel 5/10/2008 07:21:00 AM

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I had some decent workouts last week. Definitely feeling back in the groove. I did three cardio and one strength, and this week I'm aiming for three cardio and two strength sessions. Very do-able. After this week, I'll review and see if I feel ready to increase my cardio time. I'm only doing 30 minutes at a time now, although I'm always trying to run for longer intervals. It's very hard though. Yesterday I was so beat after running (at 5 mph) for just three minutes, I was only able to do two two-minute intervals after that.

I'm also really scared of running outside. I know it's so much harder because the treadmill does help push your feet along. But then I realize that nobody says I have to run outside or that I even have to run at all. I've been thinking I *might* like to train for a 5K, but on the other hand, I've always really hated running and have only been doing it recently for its calorie-burning properties. I read a number of running blogs, and those bloggers seem to enjoy running so much, I wonder if I could too. One thing that is different for a number of them is that it's a social thing. They have friends they run with and groups they belong to and stuff so maybe that's what makes it more fun. I don't know... I'll guess I'll just keep going back to the gym for now.

Labels: physical fitness

posted by Miss Rachel 5/06/2008 09:02:00 AM

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It looks as if the Alaska trip is not going to happen. My brother told my mom that it wouldn't really be worth all the trouble of traveling to stay for only few days and then leave, but I don't want to take any more vacation time. (I want to save some days for next fall when I need extra time to do homework.) So my mom and I talked and I said maybe it would be best to hold off until next year when I could plan my vac time better (I think I've already taken 9.5 vac days so far this year). I feel relieved actually because now I have more time to play with this summer taking a Friday here and a Friday there the way I like to.

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Even though I made time for a nap yesterday, I ended up doing all sorts of chores such as vacuum cleaning, picking up dog poop, grocery shopping, mail sorting and purging, dish washing and laundry folding well into last evening so I don't feel that relaxed today. Recently, I've been a little down on myself for all the down time I seem to require every night. In the evening, I like to spend most of my time on the couch reading blogs on my MacBook (or reading something else). Now since I'm still feeling slightly frazzled from last night's blitz of activity, I'm thinking that instead of feeling bad about needing lots of down-time, I should just know that having it keeps me sane. It's just how I am, and nothing to be ashamed of, right?

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Guess what time of year it is in Connecticut? Well, yes it's spring, but it also happens to be Lilac Time! I'm so excited about it. I think lilacs must be my favorite flower and part of their mystique is the fact that they come out every year for only a few weeks in May and then they're gone. They smell heavenly and are such a pretty color. We have a type of lilac bush in our backyard, and I love it, but it's a different variety and it doesn't look or smell the same as the kind that are my favorite. Last year, Blue and I went to the park on a Lilac Sniffing Expedition so I could get my fix, and I think we may have to do the same thing again this year.

Labels: family, life at home, spring

posted by Miss Rachel 5/05/2008 08:23:00 AM

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Crunch Time

Labels: anxiety, family, school

posted by Miss Rachel 4/25/2008 05:19:00 PM

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This is an email I sent to my brother today:

Hi Danny. Thanks for the encouragement about school. I really appreciate it. I know I am doing the right thing, but it gets kind of tiring and nerve-wracking at times.

About visiting. I am definitely still thinking about it, and I asked Mom if she would want to go with me, and she said she might. Today Andrea emailed me that she and Mom went shopping for clothes she can wear in Alaska so I guess it's a go. When would be a good time? June? Any tips for cutting flight costs or anything? Mom is talking about that silly "not spending you kids' inheritance" stuff again. I told her we'd rather spend it when she's still here with us, but if you have some frequent flier miles to donate that would help.

So let me know what you think...

Andrea and I were just reminiscing about that time you had to finish your cold mashed potatoes. She left for CCD and you were at the table, and then she came back from CCD and you were still at the table.

Also I saw a (small) snake in the backyard last week and thought, "Well we have to move now." I bet there aren't any snakes in Alaska, huh?

W/B when you can. Take care. I love you. - Rae

Labels: family

posted by Miss Rachel 4/21/2008 09:33:00 PM

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A Big Ol' General Update

Well, I have somewhat successfully done the website host switchover. The "somewhat" means the blog archives are not showing up, and I haven't figured out how to make them do so at this point. Also, I imagine a lot of the photos in these archived posts are no longer there since they were "ftp-d" to the old host. But since the archives aren't there then this detail is kind of moot for now. I'm hopeful that I will eventually be able to fix the archive situation. As far at the photos are concerned, I don't think I'll be sifting through past posts and trying to figure what needs to move over. I mean, you can just go to Flickr if you want to see photographs, right?

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In other news I worked a hell of a schedule last week because I planned to do 4 10-hour days, and then take Friday off, but I ended up having to work Friday since my coworker was out due to a death in her family. Note that I don't blame her for my tough work week, but it was tough nonetheless. And of course, I put my homework off till the end of the week because it seems that's just what I do these days.

So too much time at work, too much worry about schoolwork made me ready to just collapse after class on Saturday. And collapse I did. All the way through Sunday. I couldn't get myself to do much but read (not for school) online and off. I finally did some stuff today (I had today off as compensation for having to work Friday) - grocery shopping, errands, cleaning the microwave, loads and load of laundry, that kind of stuff. But I continue to fret over schoolwork and not do it. So I'm officially calling off the fretting for tonight at least. I mean, if I'm not gonna do it, I'm not gonna do it. Why fret? (Easier said than done.)

Truth be told, I've been a bit depressed. And I've never been the sort to just throw myself into work to get over it. I'm more of the lie around and wait for the feelings to pass type. I'm pretty sure these blues are from anxiety about schoolwork. I don't know why it's such a big deal for me. I mean, how many times have I posted about this kind of thing? I just suck at self motivation and I also suck at dealing with stress. I mean, the way I feel about getting my final project done is the way most people probably feel about... well, I don't know... but I'm sure having to write a paper for school is one of those "problems" to be glad you have. I know this, but I still suck at dealing with this kind of thing and end up working myself into something of a "state" over it. Blah!

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On to something completely different...

I got an iTunes gift card from my brother for my birthday, and today I used some of it to buy the following songs: Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest, Fool (If You Think It's Over) by Chris Rea, In a Broken Dream by Rod Stewart with Python Lee Jackson, Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Music Box Dancer by Frank Mills, She's a Rainbow by The Rolling Stones, and Tighten Up, Part 1 by Archie Bell and the Drells. Musically, I'm stuck in the last century pretty much, pre-1980, and I think that's how it's going to stay.

One thing I did on Sunday is that I finished reading The Magnificent Ambersons. I had bought the book a year or two ago, started it, and then stopped because I just hated George Amberson Minafer so much. But I picked it up again recently, persevered and found it to be quite a good story, and well written too. Now I think I will have to see the movie which seems to be more critically acclaimed than the book.

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Reading: The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington.

Labels: anxiety, listening, reading, school, technology, the blues

posted by Miss Rachel 4/14/2008 09:30:00 PM

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Labels: school, work

posted by Miss Rachel 4/08/2008 09:18:00 PM

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