Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Despite my appreciation for the 70 degree December day, it's thrown me off-balance. Pair that with the fact that it's Monday and clearly I was incapable of gaining equilibrium. That means I have nothing thoughtful or provoking to share, no stories or adventures of substance. Unless, of course, you're interested in the cilantro-garnished chorizo taco that I ate for lunch. Highlight of the day.
Actually, I take that back. Lunch was usurped on its pedestal by the later realization that a business trip next Tuesday will put me within 1,026 AAdvantage miles of the 30,000 needed for the lowest class "free" ticket to Ecuador. And it just so happens that the timeframe in which I want to go is considered part of the off-peak season (also a necessary caveat to get the flight for 30,000 miles).
Thanks to some site where I was taking surveys for points during my unemployment this summer, I redeemed those points for 500 additional miles. And a little internet digging tonight may have warranted me a promo code that doubles any miles earned through the end of the year. That should be me at no more than 526 miles shy and hopefully the double miles pushes me beyond 30,000.
I'm not getting my hopes up that a flight will actually be available, because word on the street (internet) is that these lowest-class tickets are hard to get a grasp on. Hopefully, since Ecuador isn't a huge destination for the average American, I'll have a fighting chance.
no swimming, it's winter \12.03\
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Labels:
lake michigan,
rock,
sign,
water
Actually, I take that back. Lunch was usurped on its pedestal by the later realization that a business trip next Tuesday will put me within 1,026 AAdvantage miles of the 30,000 needed for the lowest class "free" ticket to Ecuador. And it just so happens that the timeframe in which I want to go is considered part of the off-peak season (also a necessary caveat to get the flight for 30,000 miles).
Thanks to some site where I was taking surveys for points during my unemployment this summer, I redeemed those points for 500 additional miles. And a little internet digging tonight may have warranted me a promo code that doubles any miles earned through the end of the year. That should be me at no more than 526 miles shy and hopefully the double miles pushes me beyond 30,000.
I'm not getting my hopes up that a flight will actually be available, because word on the street (internet) is that these lowest-class tickets are hard to get a grasp on. Hopefully, since Ecuador isn't a huge destination for the average American, I'll have a fighting chance.
I've been disgracefully neglectful in reading my typical cache of followed blogs. So, on this night that I set aside for couch laying and World Series watching, I thought I'd throw in some blog reading. Some entries were more skim-worthy, others were full-reads, but one was fodder for further perusal. And it just so happens that I reserve this little space of my own for such acts.
Here's what got me:
"For several years beforehand, I thought about writing but never wrote. During much of that time I dreamed of doing something significant, but didn't have a vision for its form or structure.
If you have a project you're just now beginning, I hope you'll see it through. If the project is in progress and you haven't achieved the traction you wanted (and you're still motivated to do it), I hope you won't give up. If you keep working at it over time, I hope you'll be able to fill your own stadium with people who engage with it…" (Chris Guillebeau @ AONC)
I've always written for myself. Even though my dad has believed for many years that I will eventually write a book, I've never thought that I had anything of value to say to other people. This blog wasn't even intended for writing. Yet, it somehow became a forum of putting my thoughts into the public realm (well, semi-public - most people who read this probably already know me). As I compose my 300th post, these musings still don't have a purpose or direction other than fulfilling a goal that I set for myself.
The rigorous pace of every day writing will probably wane in 2013, but I'd like to think that I will keep at this. There's something to be said for forcing your mind to generate and contemplate. Maybe it will never lead to anything more than this, a few handfuls of people and a personal challenge. But there's hope in the word 'maybe'. If I don't write and share then the odds of developing my own vision and giving it structure...well, they're slim none.
So, here's to number 300, then 65 more, and many after that.
change and reflection \10.25\
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Labels:
leaves,
reflection,
tree,
water
Here's what got me:
"For several years beforehand, I thought about writing but never wrote. During much of that time I dreamed of doing something significant, but didn't have a vision for its form or structure.
If you have a project you're just now beginning, I hope you'll see it through. If the project is in progress and you haven't achieved the traction you wanted (and you're still motivated to do it), I hope you won't give up. If you keep working at it over time, I hope you'll be able to fill your own stadium with people who engage with it…" (Chris Guillebeau @ AONC)
I've always written for myself. Even though my dad has believed for many years that I will eventually write a book, I've never thought that I had anything of value to say to other people. This blog wasn't even intended for writing. Yet, it somehow became a forum of putting my thoughts into the public realm (well, semi-public - most people who read this probably already know me). As I compose my 300th post, these musings still don't have a purpose or direction other than fulfilling a goal that I set for myself.
The rigorous pace of every day writing will probably wane in 2013, but I'd like to think that I will keep at this. There's something to be said for forcing your mind to generate and contemplate. Maybe it will never lead to anything more than this, a few handfuls of people and a personal challenge. But there's hope in the word 'maybe'. If I don't write and share then the odds of developing my own vision and giving it structure...well, they're slim none.
So, here's to number 300, then 65 more, and many after that.
On the three occasions that I was outside in the Loop today, I became convinced that the Chicago business community either didn't check the weather forecast or they're in denial. I suppose there was a third category, consisting of people like myself, who were simply unenthused by the sub-fifty degree weather.
Fists clenched. Brows furrowed in consternation. Jacketless arms crossed. Shoulders tensed and huddled forward. Even the occasional scowl. Never has body language among nearly an entire populace been so easy to read.
I was disappointed in myself, caving in to the taunt of pre-winter weather so easily. The North Face fleece has officially left the closet and joined the hook on my front door. And I drank hot coffee. As a woman devoted to iced coffee, I'll generally drink it year-round and refuse to enter hot beverage territory until November at the earliest. Perhaps I'm softening with age.
There's this little seed, not planted too deeply in my brain, that's already yearning for a warm weather destination. Costa Rica spoiled my desire to endure winter, after 27 years of knowing nothing different. Maybe I won't have a month under my belt this winter, but I'm thinking that President's Day weekend is tagging itself for warmth and relaxation.
Oh, and apparently Chicago also likes to choose festively colored dyes and apply them to contained bodies of water.
orange you glad it's friday? \10.05\
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Labels:
color,
downtown,
water
Fists clenched. Brows furrowed in consternation. Jacketless arms crossed. Shoulders tensed and huddled forward. Even the occasional scowl. Never has body language among nearly an entire populace been so easy to read.
I was disappointed in myself, caving in to the taunt of pre-winter weather so easily. The North Face fleece has officially left the closet and joined the hook on my front door. And I drank hot coffee. As a woman devoted to iced coffee, I'll generally drink it year-round and refuse to enter hot beverage territory until November at the earliest. Perhaps I'm softening with age.
There's this little seed, not planted too deeply in my brain, that's already yearning for a warm weather destination. Costa Rica spoiled my desire to endure winter, after 27 years of knowing nothing different. Maybe I won't have a month under my belt this winter, but I'm thinking that President's Day weekend is tagging itself for warmth and relaxation.
Oh, and apparently Chicago also likes to choose festively colored dyes and apply them to contained bodies of water.
The days are getting shorter and I'm feeling short on rest. So when it's still dark at 6:15am, and my alarm is beckoning me to wake up and work out, I can't summon the motivation. Approximately four snooze pushes later, I finally open my eyes and consider throwing back the covers.
By that point in time, I have to start the shower routine. With hair that reaches past mid-back, it's a guaranteed time suck when you consider washing, conditioning and drying it. It's a good thing I can skip the makeup routine and generally it doesn't matter what I wear to work. I'm sure I could try showering at night, but I always feel too sleepy and cozy to embark on that journey by the time I think about it.
I partially blame that effect on the darkness seeping in so much earlier. It's still light when I leave the office, but not for long. So with daytime coming later, nighttime coming earlier, and a new faster pace of life...my physical activity time log for the week currently equals zero.
It would be helpful if I could ask myself how I managed to fit it into my life before. But, oh yeah, I didn't really. There were occasional coed rec sports leagues and two week bursts of running. Then there was the one time I tried to do a workout via my cable's on-demand videos. The downstairs neighbor was less than enthused.
There's no end to the articles and studies informing me about the effects of working out on my physical and mental wellness. And it's not that I don't believe them or don't want to do it, I just haven't figured out how to slot it into my new life schedule.
I'm only slightly kidding when I tell you that I keep thinking to myself, "If I can't even figure out how to fit in a 30 minutes a day to work out, how will I ever have kids or a pet...or even a relationship?"
trump lily, lucky penny \10.03\
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Labels:
flower,
pond,
reflection,
water
By that point in time, I have to start the shower routine. With hair that reaches past mid-back, it's a guaranteed time suck when you consider washing, conditioning and drying it. It's a good thing I can skip the makeup routine and generally it doesn't matter what I wear to work. I'm sure I could try showering at night, but I always feel too sleepy and cozy to embark on that journey by the time I think about it.
I partially blame that effect on the darkness seeping in so much earlier. It's still light when I leave the office, but not for long. So with daytime coming later, nighttime coming earlier, and a new faster pace of life...my physical activity time log for the week currently equals zero.
It would be helpful if I could ask myself how I managed to fit it into my life before. But, oh yeah, I didn't really. There were occasional coed rec sports leagues and two week bursts of running. Then there was the one time I tried to do a workout via my cable's on-demand videos. The downstairs neighbor was less than enthused.
There's no end to the articles and studies informing me about the effects of working out on my physical and mental wellness. And it's not that I don't believe them or don't want to do it, I just haven't figured out how to slot it into my new life schedule.
I'm only slightly kidding when I tell you that I keep thinking to myself, "If I can't even figure out how to fit in a 30 minutes a day to work out, how will I ever have kids or a pet...or even a relationship?"