Reflection: Week 16

This, as many of you know, has been such a great help for me! It has made me realize how much time and how able I am to have a great life even while I am teaching. It is giving me positive pressure, and expanding my world in so many directions. I think I am going to change it up a little though, as I am going to get rid of dress up and might get rid of physical too, as I should be doing those more then once a week. So any suggestions?

Nature: Santa Rosa

This isn't really nature, as most of them haven't been; damn cold AND rain!!

So on Thursday, I think? Ellie, who is home for winter break from Mexico, invited me out for dinner at her house with her entire family. How this is nature though, is the car ride up. While there was traffic through most of it, it was actually great to see the hills and the grasslands, and all of the other geographical features of the area. It was super calming, that even in traffic I wasn't super stressed out!!

Movie: Inception

Took me a long enough, eh?

Finally saw inception, which was as good as everyone said. I bet it would have been nice to watch it on the big screen, but I think I had a good seat watching it on a big screen cuddled on a bed. So maybe that was the best way to watch it!

Overall the movie was very interesting. They did a really good job, creating a whole world of the future. They did have a couple holes, but in all honesty, if I watched it again, they would probably be answered.

Dress up: Make up

EVERY DAY!

Since I came back from down South, and spending a few days with my girls in SF, I realized that I don't really put enough into my appearance, and my general well being. SO to change this, I have actually worn make up every day this week!!!! As of the new year, I think this category will change. Ideas include, nice restaurant, indulge, or?????

Cultural: LA

I mean the OC. I went down Friday-Monday, and while I didn't get to do a WHOLE lot of touring, I did definitely get the feel! I stayed in Santa Ana mostly, but also ventured up to Santa Monica for an afternoon. Overall, I'm not sure that area has my kind of people with a RARE exception!!

Creative: Scarf

More then half way done! Yipeeeeee!

Reading: The Nightingales of Troy COMPLETE

I finished it. As I've said it definitely was not a page turner. It actually got me mad, because the author did such a good job of vesting you within the characters and then offering no closure. The whole book had no closure! I still don't know what really happened! Some parts were funny, most were a mix of historical and social I guess?

I think Miquila will like it, as it seems to be really good writing. Speaking of Miquila, she bought me this book The Untethered Soul, which she has read for the better part of a year, and I'm super excited to start!

Cooking: Salmon

Not a whole lot to tell here. Was driving home from work and knew I needed to buy something to eat. Since I may not get to this another time, I decided to try something new. I called up Adrianna who had recently called and she suggested Salmon. I threw some spices and lemon juice on it and put it in the oven for about 20 minutes. I paired it with a spinach/tomato salad, and skinny asparagus.

Physical: Turbo Kick

I love it! The instructor is amazing!

I am hoping over break to do much more physical, but for now with my schedule, I am only at once a week! At least I eat fairly healthy!

Reflection: Week 15

High and low, as has been the past few weeks. I go through hours where I feel like my frustration or anxiety or irritation won't ever break and then go through periods, where not a thing will bother me. I'm so up and down, I'm driving myself and those around me crazy!!

Miquila bought me "The Untethered Soul", which I'm gonna start reading after I finish my Troy book, hoping that it will do something to help! I'm also planning on spending the break reading alot and doing alot of my balance chart things. It might be irregular however, as I will not be on a schedule.

Nature: Oakland Rose Garden

So by the time I got back from the city, I had like 30 minutes of light before darkness set in, so I decided to take myself to the Oakland Rose Garden, which I've never been to before. Ohmygosh it was laid out beautifully, its a huge open wide memorial grove and I am such a big fan!! I hope to go back and enjoy it for real!

Cooking: Aoli

I don't actually have the recipie and that's probably a good thing. I went over to Miquilas with the idea of making something for dinner. Todd was there as well(that's his hand, not mine!) and we decided on a salad, and pasta with aoli. Well we were all super grumpy because we hadn't eaten so Todd went out to get some pizza to satisfy a bit, while I worked on the Aoli. The aoli wound up being essentailly semi minced garlic cloves, corn and olive oil, salt/pepper and an egg yolk. We drizzled it on our pasta but heavily relied on cheese, butter and other things to liven it up!

Dress up: Heels and red lipstick

Friday night, I wore a regular outfit, although I got some definite guy attention for my T shirt which was nice. But I wore my heeled boots, which actually wound up being an impediment to dancing and wound up ditching them in order to do so.

Saturday night, I wore a dress up outfit and did not wear alot of make up but did have red lips and a red hair tie to off set my black sweater.

Creative: Knitting again

I have finished approximately 1/3 of the scarf now and just want to get it done in time to give it as a gift for the holidays!!

Movie: Pi

I tried to watch Pulp Fiction, but there was a problem with the file, so I saw Pi sitting in the folder and thought I'd try it out. Knowing nothing about it, I clicked play. I was knitting while watching and wasn't super focused, it seemed pretty interesting. The premise is that numbers and patterns are found in everything, yet the more one focuses on figuring them out, the less human it seems, they become. I'm glad I saw it as it seems to be part of the popular fabric of our times. I really should try to see Pulp Fiction though!

Cultural: Death metal Concert

Amy, her teacher friend Erica and I headed to Blake's on Friday night for their coworker's(and fellow history teacher) David's band Ashkira. The first band was pretty awful, at least as far as my limited musical tastes allow. The lead guy kept screaming into the microphone and it hurt to listen. Then David's band went on and all of his teacher friends went up to dance. I however, hurt my feet by being a baby and wearing heels. Yet, after the first song I couldn't stand it anymore, took of my boots and got right up in there!! It was soo much fun!!

Reading: Nightingales of Troy

This book is starting to get more interesting as its getting more modern and the author is having the narrator get younger. It's still not a super page turner and taking me a while to get through, for the fact that its not that long.

Physical: Turbo Kick

Ohmygosh, I have feel sooo pumped after that workout! WHOOOOO

reflection: Week 14

So I know I missed a few weeks. I decided to do my chart last week over two weeks, the week before break and the week of break. I didn't bring my laptop down to florida and I was super busy the week before break.

This week was full of ups and downs but this is the first time in a long time that I had a great Sunday! Sunday is usually my bad day, and if today was a good one, maybe I'm turning a corner!

I had a lot of things come together for me today! I'm also trying to really attack the major problem that is stressing me out at school, while letting other problems go completely. I'm also trying to bring my balance to a whole new level, especially the dress up one, trying to make myself look great everyday, and reading more regularly instead of just sitting at the computer or watching TV. I'm trying to sprinkle it in, instead of do everything hardcore!

Also, in my relationships I'm trying to take a huge step back and calm down and stop taking everything so seriously. I'm realizing that I have so much going for me and I need to keep remembering that.

SO a good end of week overall!!

Nature: nothing

So as I've mentioned I have massive OCD issues, I believe, and I hated that my numbers in the upper right hand corner were off. So I've been putting so much pressure on myself to get done all the things on the list so the numbers will stay even!

But, I couldn't do nature! Its cold and dark by 5, and it rained nearly the whole weekend, so how am I supposed to? I have a feeling December in general will be hard to do nature.

SO I have decided, that if I don't do one, I will explain why, so my numbers stay even!

Creative: Making cards

I wrote out 7 holiday cards today, and 11 last week! Whooo hoooo!!!

Cultural: Santa-Con

So our intention was to do several cultural things, starting with santa-con, which is a afternoon bar crawl where everyone dresses up as santa. Then, we were going to head to a BrewFest, a speakeasy bar that needs a password, and then a party at Todd's friends house.

After starting to pregame at Miquila's house(photo above), next thing we know its 6pm, and Santa-Con was over at 7. So we decided to grab something to eat at a Pizza place nearby(two pictures below. There was no picture out of like 8 where all three of us looked normal) and before we know it, ONE OF US is asleep on the bar. So we had all these grand expectations and didn't make it more then a block from Miquila's house. In this case, I am going to count intention, especially because it involved dressing up!!

Dress up: Santa-Con

So I spent a while in my head putting this together, and I was very proud of myself. It consisted of mary jane shoes(starting from the ground up), black leggings, white tank top and red lingerie, a black scarf and my red jacket. I also put makeup on including my red red lipstick! Santa approved!!

Movie: Swingers

"You are so fucking money."

This movie was very eye opening. I am obviously the Mike character, but a girl. It was interesting to see how destructive he was. Berger(never caught his name in the movie, but from sex and the city) said that the difference between Mike and other guys, is that Mike focused on what he didn't have instead of what he did. I know I can fall apart, when I think I should be getting something(a guy, an honor, high averages, etc) and I don't. I think the whole world is judging me, as I am judging me. Yet, its not true! Was a good one to see!

Reading: The Nightingales of Troy

One nice thing about visiting mom is getting new books! She's part of a book club, with her New York friends, and they video chat once a month with mom. It's actually really nice. While mom is not much of a reader, the rest of the ladies are and pick out some good books. Over the break i finished Devil in the White City and read the girl with the dragon tattoo. BOth of which of course ended with serial killers, which has been coloring my opinion of suave men as of late.

I'm now reading this book, called Nightingales of Troy, which is intriguing, although not a real page turner.

It focuses on the lives of women in this family, in Troy, New York(15 minutes from my hometown) over a century and does a bunch of vignettes, I guess. It's beautifully written, and the history of both the area, and the women's arena in the early 20th century I have found quite interesting so far.

Physical: Kickboxing

So I had a rough time with it, with physical this week. I can't figure out exactly why it happened but I went to kickboxing with Marissa on Monday. My head was really hurting, and my feet were hurting because of wearing heels earlier in the day. Then, this guy I don't like walked in, and went in the corner where I couldn't even see him, but just his presence irritated me. Finally, this guy next to me sucked. And when someone sucks when you are kickboxing, you get kicked, or hit. NOT FUN! So I moved, but at this point the only open space was behiind a column, so I couldn't see the guy at all. After five more minutes of lack luster following along others, I nearly broke into tears out of irritation and left.

So I knew I had to go back and I went to kickboxing again tonight, but the instructor is lack luster and I am not a fan! At least I got my heart pumping! Oh and I rode my bike to work today too!

Cooking: Quinoa

While not a major cooking expedition, I did cook a brand new thing Quinoa! It's supposedly super healthy for you and something you would only find in Berkeley or on space stations apparently, as its a complete protein!

I might have ate 4 servings of it, but it was super good!! I ate it with a stirfry of beef and vegetables, with a spinach and tomato salad proceeding it!