Twenty Something Year Old Punks

Yesterday I attended my first regional meeting as a manager. I learned so much on how to improve our club. Our owner and I could not stop writing down ideas and brainstorming on the trip home.

After only five months in business, we reached 350+ members. We are thrilled, but of course think we can do better. However, while at the meeting I realized (my boss already knew this) the average number of members in our 20+ clubs in our state is near 140. I became conscious of how many things we are doing right. Women who owned these gyms for 10+ years struggled to reach 60 some members. Our regional director wanted us to share some of our ideas.

After sharing, some of them looked at us like we were crazy.

"Give it time, you're still young" or "Just wait" or "When I first started I had as much passion"

It drove me crazy. Ok, granted we are both twenty something years old and know this might fade, but we kind of laughed about their comments in the car. If we get old or tired....Then we will hire someone who is as young and energetic as we once were.

I am not trying not to be arrogant, but we work our butts off, case and point, I just sat down for the first time today after being on my feet for 14 hours, where even my $100 tennis shoes feel like $15 high heels. I just want our club to be successful.

Afterwards, my boss and I talked to our Regional Director, she could not be more thrilled about our progress. My boss even made the comment to her and another owner..."Not bad for some twenty-something year old punks".

I couldn't agree more. We do not know everything, but we do know that we absolutely love our women and love our job. And there are talks of opening up another club. I love that not only did I find something I love, I found something I could make a career/living out of now.

Tale of two tests.

Remember that test I tried to study for merely days before he came home...

Well I needed to drive an hour and a half to the testing center. I laid out everything the night before including directions, my GPS, and my testing ticket. I arrived 2 hours early, found a Dunkin Donuts to review and eat a good breakfast.

I did not pass. I missed passing by 4 questions.

Fortunately/Unfortunately I could not sulk. Less than 24 hours later I picked him up from the airport. My very supportive husband and I signed up for a test two weeks after his return flight to the sandbox. I didn't want to wait too long and basically "re-study" the entire 18 chapters.

Somehow during these past 2 chaotic weeks, I managed to study. His mother made a comment to me yesterday to set a few alarms. I assured her that oversleeping is my biggest fear.

This morning, after no sleep due to a nasty storm, my clock read 7am. The storm knocked out one of my alarms and I forgot to save the one on my cell phone. I needed to be at the testing center an hour and 15 minutes away at 8am. I did not eat a good breakfast nor drink my cup of coffee. I still needed to print out my testing ticket. I forgot the GPS and the directions. It was still storming and I needed to drive through Nashville traffic at 8am.

After calling information for directions and a phone number, I called to notify them and they reassured me I could still take the test. I arrived an hour late on a college campus going through "Welcome Week" and many other fairs. I parked illegally and raced inside.

And I passed that SOB! I am now a Certified Personal Trainer.

Back to the Basics

This week and last week I feel I have gone back to the "basics" on a few things...

Him

The past week I have been working on a grocery list for him of his favorite beer, dinners, snacks, etc. And this might sound absurd for someone who supposedly knows him better than anyone, but I find myself trying a little too hard to remember what I use to buy for him.

My friend Leslie mentioned "everything" bagels the other day. I could not believe I forgot his FAVORITE breakfast. See I use to eat bagels all of the time, but stopped buying them once he left.

I hope more come to me in the next week.

My girls

If you follow me on FB, you noticed some of my updates reading "walking the girls" instead of rollerblading. While rollerblading tires them out super fast and we have rollerblading down to a science, they are acutally AWFUL walkers.

My poor mom. Whenever she puts them on the leash to walk, they think they are rollerblading and go darting down the driveway. This past week I rollerblade them in the morning and walk them in the evening. I have seen quite a bit of progress.

I also realized my forearms are ridiculously strong as when I rollerblade and walk my two 60+ puppies, I have no problem controling each of them.

Anyone have any tips to get your big dogs to stop pulling?

Studying/Career

I came to the realization a few months back, I needed to find a "portable" career. While looking ahead at our future, I realized we are going to move 3 times in just the next 5 years. Lovely for someone who wants a perfect sports business related job.

After talking with my parents, his parents, and of course him, I decided to go ahead and get my personal trainer's license and start up my own business. I am actually quite excited about it. I already picked a name, blog, website, and started on my business plan. My family always told me I should go into it since I constantly train them whenever I get a chance. I also have to thank P90X for so many things including new workouts and noticing results after a certain amount of time.

We decided for me to not try and find another job since we were so close to R&R and for me to spend my time studying. I also plan on subbing in the fall for some kind of additional income for this household.

I take the test August 3rd, just a few short days before he is suppose to arrive. I figure it would distract me and I really wanted it all said and done before he gets here.

I am a little nervous and was hesitant to post it on my blog. Afterall, you are suppose to take 3 months to study and I am knocking it out in 1.5 months. I just finished outlining the book and now will take this week to review. So here goes nothing!

Week Eleven

Well where do I start...

I truly believe I am suffering from blogger's block. And I know exactly why.

About 10 days ago, I decided to "forgo" my newest job opportunity. Its an incredibly long story that I promise to share eventually. I will say I absolutely made the right decision and have no regrets whatsoever. For awhile I found it difficult to blog.

I am back in the interview/resume/application saddle and found some luck. I am on interview #3 with a company, but not sure what will happen next. While I continue my job search related to my major, I am subbing. And let me say, God Bless teachers. I taught elementary all of last week. I never said "Keep your hands to yourself" or "Eyes and ears on me girls and boys" more in my entire life.

This week I am subbing 6th grade English at a local middle school, Monday-Friday. Its like a real job, ha, which I am still adjusting to this new schedule. They actually offered me a long term position to teach that class until the end of the school year. I have until the end of the week to decide.

And let me tell you, my dogs HATE my schedule. I truly believe I trained obedient dogs, but not as of late. Friday afternoon I came home to two very hyper dogs. I immediately changed my clothes and put on my rollerblades. The girls took off so fast that all of a sudden I witnessed both of my legs and rollerblades fly straight into the air and I landed square on my back. I self-diagnosed myself with a bruised tailbone.

Four days later I am still in a ton of pain. I did not go to kickboxing for the first time in 2 months. Instead I lifted and ran two miles at a very slow pace. My darling friend and neighbor brought over her heating pad and let's just say, its my new best friend, even replaced DVR in my life!

I promised myself to take it easy this week, but I am growing more and more frustrated as I realized I am 11 days away from my half-marathon. I do not know what to do.

Besides all the minor drama, I am still feeling good about a lot of things. As I approach the three month mark, I am:

• Still cooking three new meals a month
• Scrapbooking a lot more
• Already reading my second book, a trashy Hollywood novel this month
• Studying a little more for my personal training license
• Involving myself more at my church and still attending every week

Six out of the past seven weekends, my house was filled with visitors. Last weekend my sister and brother-in-law visited. This weekend is no different. His former teammate at WP's wife wants to come check out the area while her husband finishes Ranger School. They plan to move here in May which means another wonderful friend nearby.

Hopefully this ends my blogger's block!

Hammering

What's that saying? Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer? Because it feels so good when I stop. -Meredith Grey

When I first heard this quote, I didn't really comprehend its true meaning. That is until I stopped working...

A job offer appeared in my email this morning. Everything I could ask for really, except I would head right back down the path of long, ridiculous hours at times.

At least I have more than enough time to think about it...

2008

I have no problem saying good-bye to 2008. I felt the year was a tale of two halves for me. I looked back at pictures and my old Live Journal to help me write my year in review. And what did I find...

January-June

I never thought it would happen, but I became a dog person. I fell in love with Dakota. In January I visited him down at Fort Rucker. This would be our last good weekend together for over 6 months. One of my favorite pictures from last year:

I did not realize how freaking much I worked. Looking back at my journal from last year, I updated 7 times in 6 months! I commuted one hour to and from work everyday. I worked at the office from 7am until 8pm every night. When it came to tournament time, I worked Friday-Sunday 6am-1am.

I loved every minute, however, I failed to notice how much I pushed people out of my life. I fought with my sister the first 2 months over her wedding. She wanted a better Maid of Honor. I wanted to work. As a result, I also fought with my mom. I didn't have time for her or him...

We fought and fought and fought some more through January and Feburary. By the time I finally reached out to him at the end of March, it was too late.

For the first time in 8 years, my whole body became numb towards him. I didn't care about losing him, his family, his friends, our relationship. We had the exact same relationship for so long...Visiting on weekends once a month then heading back to our "regular" life. I gave up.

He didn't...Thank God.

We dated other people. Dating for the first time since 15, I found someone completely opposite of him. While fun at the beginning, the newness began to wear away. One month into the relationship, I sat on the stairs and cried telling my mom I just missed my best friend.

However, with work, I didn't have time to reach out.

July

On July 2, 2008. He called and wanted to meet me. I had not seen his face since early Febuary. I drove to Wendy's parking lot, our favorite hangout through high school. He sat on the curb. I headed over to sit next to him and put my head into my knees and just bawled. He placed his hand on my back to console me and I felt my entire body melt.

I missed his touch.

7 days later, I found out about my boss. I immediately quit my job and drove 6 hours to Campbell from Chicago and he drove 6 hours from Rucker. We finally met in the middle.

August

We bought a house together. We bought another beautiful puppy together.

I absolutley loved living with him and our girls.

September-October

I wanted to work again. It defined who I was for so long. I started to define myself in other terms, as a friend. Our Saturday volleyball gang

Instead of being negative about my situation, I embraced it. I decorated and painted our house. I landscaped with his parents. I became a better cook. I took Daisy to obedience classes and worked with both of them every night. I began to blog more frequently. I reconnected with friends.

November

Whether I liked it or not, I threw myself in the Army. With his Pathfinder and Air Assault slot and block leave. November was definitely our Army month. I began preparing myself for his deployment. Every day I told myself I was going to kick ass.

His Air Assault graduation.

December

Our 2 weeks before he left, everything I could ask for and more. It helped tremondoulsy with the hustle and bustle of D-Day. I knew I did everything I could do to make it easier.

This month in this year was a memorable year, both good and bad.

Alone and smiling on Christmas next to his stocking.

I always feel the way I spend New Years Eve serves as a metaphor for how my year will turn out. Last year, we went outside our comfort zone to a fancy club. It was not us. We spent most of the night complaining. After midnight, we left. We left hand and hand in beautiful downtown Chicago and walked 2 miles in a breath taking light snow fall.

This year, I headed over to Jeni's. Her mom made an amazing Korean dinner. I played with her babies, played Scrabble, and rang in the New Year with a glass of wine and a hug from an amazing friend.

I smiled at her after our hug and said, "Our boys come home this year".

So see you later 2008 and bring on 2009. I am ready for it with a whole army of support behind me :)