Friday, December 30, 2011
Adri in a nutshell
I'm about to take off for Chicago and time is tight, so I'll quickly tell you all that:
- I ate a lot of sweets over the holidays. (I can't help it if all I can do in the kitchen is make boring salads and yummy desserts.)
- I am about to go eat a lot of free wedding food and Chicago pizza. (I can't help it if that's the best that weddings have to offer sometimes, especially when the only person that you know there is busy getting married. And when in Chicago ...)
- I haven't run more than 3 miles in my entire life and even that was over 10 years ago. (OK ... that I could have helped.)
- After working next door to Bertie for about 2.2 seconds, I was under her funny spell and way to agreeable when she asked me to run 10 miles with her. (I can't help it if she's just too darn nice to say no to even if I totally disagree with her hatred for mayonnaise.)
When I get back from Chi-town, I'll post a 'before' snapshot of a dashing wedding-goer. Until then, Happy New Year, ya'll!
What the *#!@& was I thinking
Those are the words that come to mind every day when I think about starting that training regimen I shared a few weeks ago. Which explains why my New Year's resolution has been to lose weight...every year since I started college...in 1993!!!
I'm not a runner. I'm barely a walker. I stroll. Easily distracted by shiny objects. Who has grown overly attached to all garments in my wardrobe with elastic waistbands and shoes that don't require me to carry 200 lbs on the balls of my feet. This means that everything sexy and overpriced is gathering dust while I wear those baggy white capri pants for the sixth time this month. The black t-shirt is my best friend. I thank God for Tadashi...the brand that lets me wear an XL cocktail dress AND remain in denial that I am not even a size 14 anymore.
I'd like to blame it on Kabul. But Kabul didn't make me eat an entire box of Velveeta Shells and Cheese at 2am after a tequila binge. Once a month. Then again, I wasn't addicted to hulu.com before I deployed so maybe I can blame at least some of these extra pounds on the Taliban.
And so I answered Bertie's call. At the time I thought, "Why the hell not?" Now I can think of a million reasons. Damn.
I am Jen. On the right is my roommate, strolling/walking/running(ha!) partner, and fellow pansy Morgan.
Can't wait to meet you all in April. Hope to be able to fit into my clothes then too. :)
Introducing: Bertie
Hey, ladies!
As no one in the group knows everyone, I thought it might be a nice way to start things off by each introducing ourselves. (Cheesy, yes-- but helpful!) Nothing big, cumbersome, or daunting; just a five-minute-coffee-break note to offer a bit of insight into who you are, why you are doing this race, etc. Ideally, if you have a pic handy, that will help us put a name with a face, but it is not required (strongly recommended, but not required! ;).
To get started, here is a pic of me and fellow racer Sarah:
A little closer than is comfortable (does anyone need that much insight into my pores? ;), but when I was flipping through the photos stored on my computer, this one squarely fits into the category of "before," so it became an easy choice.
I took this picture MLK weekend in 2010-- two years ago and, most importantly, BEFORE my year-long tour in Afghanistan. Before the DFAC and processed food and minimal excerise and compound living. Before crazy stress and few social outlets. Before I was introduced to PJ's donuts (I don't even like donuts, but let me tell you-- those donuts were *damn* good! And, when you have little other variances in your day, food becomes a dependable distraction... regrettably). We used to joke that our one-block compound was the "Kabubble" because there were few opportunities to experience life outside of it. Now that I am no longer in Afghanistan, the Kabubble more appropriately describes my oversized rump rather than my living situation. The weight I gained in Afghanistan is one of my most unfortunate hangovers from my year away and is why I am now a determined pansy.
So, in looking at my imperfect-but-perfectly-fine face in the BEFORE, I am determined to make this again a reality in my AFTER. I am a goal-oriented person who dreads the beginning of a workout regimine-- especially when tackling such an enterprise alone. That's why I've recruited (cajoled? ;) all of you to join me. Safety in numbers, friends-- especially numbers as hilarious as ours! Seriously, the ladies I do know in this group are among the funniest in America and, for those of you whom I am just getting to know, I've heard the same about you, too. Everyone has come VERY highly recommended! I started this blog-- and this group-- as a way to laugh through my anguish, share my failures and accomplishments, and lighten the load a bit. If nothing else, getting into shape will actually be *fun* in your company.
So, I hope we can use this blog as a venue to share news, relay funny stories, come to terms with any stumblings, and celebrate together our accomplishments! I welcome your friendship, advice, and *laughter*! In exchange, I hope you kindly accept my large hinderquarter and willingnenss to try again. :)
On New Year's Day, I am going to step begrudgingly on the scale and take out the tape measure. I am going to record the circumference of my arms, thighs, belly, and dreaded rear. I am going to record these scary, scary numbers and then put them aside. I hope when I do this exercise again on April 22nd, I will be able to quanitify my efforts-- and God willing, all of those numbers will have dropped. Even if they don't, if I'm able to complete gracefully a 10-mile trek at the end of this journey, I'll be feelin' good and it will be well worth it!
So, in a nutshell- that's me. I'm zany, enthusiastic, and cranky in traffic. I love 80s music and hate "Praire Home Companion." One of my favorite sounds is the noise made by an old-fashioned door closing; one of my least favorite is the dreadful crackle of mayonnaise. I love the quiet of early morning, the smell of pine trees in the first thaw, and the Oxford comma. I disdain prejudice, hate crimes, and Adam Sandler movies. Without Bill Gates' help, I cannot spell.
I look forward to meeting (at least virtually!) all of you, too! I definetely don't want "blogging" to become a job; however, if we each committ to writing at least once a month (more, though, if your heart so desires!), we'll always have a lot to read and the encouragement (or commiseration!) we need to continue!
Happy New Year, friends! Good luck, MPs!
As no one in the group knows everyone, I thought it might be a nice way to start things off by each introducing ourselves. (Cheesy, yes-- but helpful!) Nothing big, cumbersome, or daunting; just a five-minute-coffee-break note to offer a bit of insight into who you are, why you are doing this race, etc. Ideally, if you have a pic handy, that will help us put a name with a face, but it is not required (strongly recommended, but not required! ;).
To get started, here is a pic of me and fellow racer Sarah:
 |
| Sarah (left) and Bertie (right) |
A little closer than is comfortable (does anyone need that much insight into my pores? ;), but when I was flipping through the photos stored on my computer, this one squarely fits into the category of "before," so it became an easy choice.
I took this picture MLK weekend in 2010-- two years ago and, most importantly, BEFORE my year-long tour in Afghanistan. Before the DFAC and processed food and minimal excerise and compound living. Before crazy stress and few social outlets. Before I was introduced to PJ's donuts (I don't even like donuts, but let me tell you-- those donuts were *damn* good! And, when you have little other variances in your day, food becomes a dependable distraction... regrettably). We used to joke that our one-block compound was the "Kabubble" because there were few opportunities to experience life outside of it. Now that I am no longer in Afghanistan, the Kabubble more appropriately describes my oversized rump rather than my living situation. The weight I gained in Afghanistan is one of my most unfortunate hangovers from my year away and is why I am now a determined pansy.
So, in looking at my imperfect-but-perfectly-fine face in the BEFORE, I am determined to make this again a reality in my AFTER. I am a goal-oriented person who dreads the beginning of a workout regimine-- especially when tackling such an enterprise alone. That's why I've recruited (cajoled? ;) all of you to join me. Safety in numbers, friends-- especially numbers as hilarious as ours! Seriously, the ladies I do know in this group are among the funniest in America and, for those of you whom I am just getting to know, I've heard the same about you, too. Everyone has come VERY highly recommended! I started this blog-- and this group-- as a way to laugh through my anguish, share my failures and accomplishments, and lighten the load a bit. If nothing else, getting into shape will actually be *fun* in your company.
So, I hope we can use this blog as a venue to share news, relay funny stories, come to terms with any stumblings, and celebrate together our accomplishments! I welcome your friendship, advice, and *laughter*! In exchange, I hope you kindly accept my large hinderquarter and willingnenss to try again. :)
On New Year's Day, I am going to step begrudgingly on the scale and take out the tape measure. I am going to record the circumference of my arms, thighs, belly, and dreaded rear. I am going to record these scary, scary numbers and then put them aside. I hope when I do this exercise again on April 22nd, I will be able to quanitify my efforts-- and God willing, all of those numbers will have dropped. Even if they don't, if I'm able to complete gracefully a 10-mile trek at the end of this journey, I'll be feelin' good and it will be well worth it!
So, in a nutshell- that's me. I'm zany, enthusiastic, and cranky in traffic. I love 80s music and hate "Praire Home Companion." One of my favorite sounds is the noise made by an old-fashioned door closing; one of my least favorite is the dreadful crackle of mayonnaise. I love the quiet of early morning, the smell of pine trees in the first thaw, and the Oxford comma. I disdain prejudice, hate crimes, and Adam Sandler movies. Without Bill Gates' help, I cannot spell.
I look forward to meeting (at least virtually!) all of you, too! I definetely don't want "blogging" to become a job; however, if we each committ to writing at least once a month (more, though, if your heart so desires!), we'll always have a lot to read and the encouragement (or commiseration!) we need to continue!
Happy New Year, friends! Good luck, MPs!
How We Became "Martha's Pansies"
 |
| Our inspiration: the tough pansy. Who knew?! |
And so it was. T-shirts forthcoming.
 |
| A pic from our first adventure (Adrianna, Kit, Bertie, Sarah). I like to call this photo "Before." :) |
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