First Week of My New Life!

Finally, I get a chance to sit down and write a little about the crazy week that has been going on for me. I started my first week of work, my first real job! I have never been so tired and so happy with where my life is going. I absolutely adore my co-workers, the atmosphere I work in, and the city I will soon be living in. My official move to Atlanta will be in about 2 weeks, and I couldn't be more excited to begin my life in a completely new city! I always told people that I was from Atlanta, from Georgia, and after meeting more and more true Atlanta residents, I've discovered that I barely knew the city at all. It is a completely different monster from the suburbs, one that I am ready to challenge and learn how to tackle.

The only downside to my new, super busy life is the lack of energy I have been finding myself having in the gym. Especially when I run during the week, I have so much difficulty pushing myself. I'm in the process of researching some ways to get over this (it may just be a mental block). I tried to visit my favorite local GNC member today to get some advice, but unfortunately she wasn't working today. Guess I'll just have to check back later. As usual, I'll figure it out. Guess I need to by Sunday, since I'll be running a 15-miler this weekend.

Finally, I also finished the book I have been reading called "Shadow Divers", based on the story of divers from New Jersey who discovered a mystery U-boat off the coast. It's a little lengthy, but was wonderful! I then started "Room" by Emma Donoghue. It is the story of a mother and son trapped in an 11' x 11' room. It is written in the child's perspective, who was born and has lived in the small room for his whole life. This book is a quick read, especially since you are anxiously waiting for the duo to break out of their prison.

One more day of work tomorrow at Notable Weddings and Events (yes, I work 6 days a week), then a brain-free day Sunday. I may try to sneak in a beer with friends as some point. Hope everyone has a great weekend and if you have any suggestions about my energy lack, I'd love to hear!

No Longer Jobless!

As some of you know, I was offered a job in April of this year for a sales position. Door to door sales, going in completely blind, and paid strictly on commission. Needless to say, that was no where near my dream. After my stint in Paris, I realized that I needed to remove myself from that situation. I felt that once I put myself in the position, I would be so unhappy that I would end up quitting within the week anyway. So, I put myself back on the market in the demanding and difficult job market. I have been looking for a position for the past 2 months, and finally I have found something!!

This job isn't just one that I settled with. When applying for positions, I made sure that the descriptions fell inline with my strengths and interests. Friday I applied, Tuesday I went to the interview, and today I was offered the position. Them telling me "We should have stopped the interview process once we met you" just reassured the feeling I had coming out of the interview that this was the place for me.

So, here is my new home, The Propel Agency, and I am so excited to begin my first day with them this Monday. Surprisingly, their office is very similar looking to my apartment this year in Athens. Just another sign. I will be working with branding and marketing, especially with client relations and organization/communication. The job description they told me fits perfectly with what I do and the areas I believe I excel. Whoopppyyy!

I guess I can't include "Jobless" in my blog title anymore... New suggestions would be welcomed! I can't describe how happy I am for Monday and to begin this new experience which I am hoping will prove to be all that it seems!

It's All in the Knees

Finally, I am at the half way point for my marathon in November, meaning I ran 13 miles this past weekend. It was the longest distance I have run since my half marathon in January with Megan and Jen (check out their blogs too!). After that first half marathon, the knee pain I experienced was excruciating and lasted for days. It felt like my joints were those of a 90 year old and even the smallest movements caused pain and tenderness. So, how do you take care of your knees doing a marathon, when you are likely to take 26,000 or more strides within those 26.2 miles? Surprisingly, it isn't all in the knees!

One of the biggest parts of your body may be to blame. Your thigh muscles must be set and trained to perform at high standards. They must be strong and able to hold your knees in the proper place. That means you MUST weight train, focusing on the quads and hamstrings. With running, you will find that your hamstrings will become stronger, but if you ignore your quads, there will be an imbalance and that can cause problems. Therefore, add squats and lunges to your weight routine. If your using machines, leg presses and extensions are two other options. I personally like free weights since you know both of your quads are working hard rather than one picking up slack for another.

Another problem is that you may be in the wrong shoe. I'm an overpronater, meaning the outside of my heel strikes first, then my foot rolls inward too much. With this, shock isn't absorbed right and pain is therefore felt, especially in the knees. Other people are underpronaters (supinators), and many are normal. The best thing to do is to go to a professional shoe store and let them observe your stride to find the perfect fit. Shoes have made such a difference for me!

When I was 4, I broke my leg at McDonald's. Not just broke, but really snapped it. I was on the playground, got my foot caught in a crevice, turned sharply, and spiral broke tibia. The break went right through. Luckily I was little and able to recover without extensive surgery, but I did spend my 5th birthday in a wheelchair.

During high school, the injury showed up again. I was running 4 and 800s in track and didn't stop when shin splints started to be felt. It ended in me running a 400 during a meet, collapsing on the side of the track, and limping to my mom's car that had been pulled around to the field. I had a full-blown stress fracture on the same spot my break over ten years had occurred, one that required 2 months of rest and a splint. Freshman year of college I had another stress fracture in my femur. The doctor said that he had never seen that before. From then on I tried to tune in more to my body when it started hurting.

Obviously, I have to be more careful, and so far I have. I've added more weight training, acquired the proper shoes (I love my Brooks Ravenna 2), and gradually increased my mileage (1 mile per week). Losing weight is also another option. Each pound you lose takes 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. Let's just hope my body stays together for the next 2 1/2 months! As a side note, I've added additional pages to my blog (look up) that list things to do and places to go. Check 'em out!

Rhubarb

What an interesting week this has been. Last weekend it all started with my first experience of Buckhead nightlife. Gersh, Angela, and I headed to Five Paces Inn and Pool Hall after grabbing a taco at Tin Lizzy's. We also managed a free drink from the bartender, saying that he was glad some attractive women finally showed up to a bar full of dudes.

I was extremely worried about a phone call I had to make on Monday, but it turned out into me being invited to a second round interview for a position in Buckhead. I love the company, and now hoping that the second interview this coming Monday goes well.

I think I got very overwhelmed by a lot of things that went on earlier this week, and ended up having somewhat of a cry fest in my mom's room watching home re-design shows. The pressures of finding a job, training for this marathon, and really not knowing what is going on with my life in the short term is a lot to think about. I was being the typical emotional female. It has to happen every once in a while, right?

So, this week I really focused on finding housing in Atlanta. After 2 days of driving from Highlands to Buckhead to Midtown and more, I decided it just isn't the right time for me to make that investment, so a little longer at mom's until I find a job and gain income is fine with me. I love her kitchen too, so that is a plus for staying. She also treated me to a pedicure on Tuesday, making the stress chill out a little.

My body has been hurting from all of the running and weight training I have been putting it through, so I finally got in a yoga class at our gym as an alternative to my run for the day. It was a great way to start my morning, and really tuned me in to how terrible my posture is. I'm definitely trying to fit in more classes this week. I also received another job interview request for Tuesday in the Highlands area. Things are looking up!

After another Friday night out in Buckhead and a visit to the "Secret Garden", joined this time by the Maggie (Angela's friend) and Emily, I spent the day cooking and baking. My mom is hosting a dinner party of 10 at her house tomorrow, and I of course volunteered to make cupcakes. I needed to make something universally liked, so I decided to go with a vanilla cake and cream cheese frosting, that I dyed yellow to compliment the sunny weather in Georgia.

I also wanted to make some pretty healthy foods for dinner and dessert since last night we devoured goldfish, pretzels, bagel crisps, and hummus and today I snuck one of the cupcakes I made. It's definitely a detox kinda day. I made Eggs Italiano, but instead of using the whole egg I just used whites. I would use a little more balsamic vinegar next time, but it was very good and used eggs, one of my favorite foods.

I also made Meringue Topped Strawberries & Rhubarb, which turned out so pretty in the new ramekins my mom purchased. I've never used rhubarb before, but it will soon become a staple in my recipes.

Overstuffed Portobellos: My New "Go-To"

So again, another day where I had too much time on my hands. Cooking takes time for me, and actually gives me something entertaining during the day besides just filling out job apps and stressing over how my life is in a weird chaos.

Well, these Bellos made me pretty happy. I found the recipe on Clean Eating's Reader Recipe list, and it was far from disappointing. The smells as I started to chop the veggies and roast the red peppers in the oven made me hungry!

I recommend roasting the red peppers in advance, as I forgot until I started sautéing the vegetables. Also, look for mushrooms that make a bowl shape rather than having a flat bottom to the cap. It helps when you start stuffing them, because there is a lot of mix with the amount of vegetables you use. Enjoy!

Summer Sunsets with Watermelon

Last night Dan and I tried to get our graduated butts out of our parent's home and actually surround ourself with our new city. We had planned a few other friends to join, but sometimes plan fall through. So, we headed to Park Tavern for their Summer Sunsets in the Park to listen to Main Street Exiles (a Rolling Stones cover) and Yacht Rock Revue.

We walked in an immediately felt that we were the youngest people there, especially after seeing most of the people in attendance were sporting "Pam's 40th" koozies. So, we feel old in Athens now but too young in Atlanta. My goal is to find where I belong and where my scene is. I know it's here. It will just take some trial and error. Both bands were great, but being the old woman I act like, I left around 10:30 before YRR could finish their second set. I really should start taking naps again if I plan on going out.

My friend Adam just moved into his new apartment in Athens, so I had every intention of baking him cookies as a house warming. My mom came down to the kitchen and saw the beginning of my baking, and another order for my goodies was placed. My mom is headed to A BYOB and food concert at Chukkar Farms tonight, so of course a dessert is needed. I've ended up with 3 cookie sheets full of these pretty sugary treats, and have told myself that one is enough.

They took over 4 hours, but they look great! The seeds are chocolate covered sunflower seeds that Trader Joe's sells. My mom also purchased dark chocolate covered pomegranate seeds while there, unwrapped them while I was baking, and placed the plastic tub in front of me as she ran out the door. She really knows how to help me stay on my running diet.

Dog Adoption for the Better

Do you ever look at your dog and think about how easy he has it? How everything can make him happier than you've ever experienced? It amazes me especially how happy my dog is when he chows down and consumes a full bowl of kibble within 30 seconds. He then comes pounding and leaping into our family room, with its white carpet, doing a nose dive straight into it. He then holds the position for a good 30 seconds, tush sticking straight in the air, until he decides to collapse onto the floor. He sprawls his whole black furry body out, stretching out his legs and paws and then begins licking the white carpet. What a weird pup, but he is happier than anything.

Fred was a pair for a while, with his brother being Barney. We rescued them both from Small Dog Rescue, even though they were both well over 60 pounds and not yet fully grown. I had actually found Fred on a website and somehow convinced my mom to visit his foster family. Well when they let Fred out, there came Barney, nose to tail with Fred. They were inseparable, identical looking, but with completely opposite personalities. Fred is timid, being very resistant to human interaction. He is very smart though, being the one that could actually play fetch and figure out problems that he ran into. Barney however was a big, dumb, cuddly boy. It's hard to write about him, especially after he passed away a little over 2 years ago after being diagnosed with brain cancer. It was one of the worst incidences I have ever had to deal with. It is amazing how a dog can become such a part of your family.

I encourage anyone thinking about getting a dog to adopt. Adopting Fred and Barney was one of the best things our family has done, and they have given us so much love that will be remembered long after they are gone.

Please look at Athens Pets for those that are still in the classic city, and for those in Atlanta, there are an infinite amount of websites providing foster care for dogs. Pounds are a great source to go to first though, since most of these dogs are put down a few days after they are kenneled, depending on how they got there. They have a very limited time, and I know Fred and Barney were a day away from being put down as 10 week old puppies before Small Dog Rescue took them in. I could not imagine my childhood and growing up without them.