Fabulous Friday - Maintaining Fabulousness

It's difficult, man. I haven't done any running since the Turkey Trot except a lame 10 minutes on a treadmill Tuesday morning. I figure I deserve a little laziness.

Also, I think a gym membership is essential. I just can't get excited about getting up early to work out at work with a bunch of skinny 18-20 year olds. I need some adults to keep me motivated. So, I got a 7 day pass to 24 Hour Fitness. I intend to get up early tommorrow (Saturday) and go to the gym. Time to get back into the game, folks.

The guy I've been dating is running a half marathon this weekend. So nice to talk about healthy habits with someone. He's even going to Vegas to run a race, and can't drink or be unhealthy to make it through 2 hours of running on Sunday. I appreciate that. Giving up partying for health. Like it.

Classes are almost over! I did a presentation on Monday, so next week I have to turn in two rather easy finals. After that, the Christmas parties begin. I will not over-consume cheese, I will not over-consume cheese, I will not over-consume cheese...

This weekend, there is a "Polar Jet." So, there are some freezing temperatures in California. It's about time people realize what actual "cold" feels like. San Jose - in the 50's. Hmmm, not really freezing, but I'm going to buy some fabulous sweaters anyway. :)

Finished paper writing so I can blog now

Writing a 15-pager about Chickering was somewhat exciting, but I'm even MORE excited to get this quarter over with. Saba pointed out that I missed a few fabulous Fridays. Guess they weren't too fabulous, but here's the run-down:

I wrote a paper. (Perhaps I mentioned that...)
I ran a lot.
I've been getting some shin-splints.
I ran the San Jose Turkey Trot 5 minutes slower than last year, but it was still fun.
I had Thanksgiving with one of my best friends and her family.
I went to dinner and hung out at a cheesy jazz bar with a guy I've been seeing.
I went wine tasting near Healdsburg with same guy.
I went to dinner and saw "Fred Clause" with above mentioned guy.
I kisses said "guy" and it was nice.

More to come later.

Moi

Sunday Random Thought

If a man can be called a "stud" and a woman can be called a "muffin"... futhermore a strong man can be called a "stud muffin"...

Can I please be called a "muffin stud?"

It sure do Miss Daisy.

I love "Driving Miss Daisy." Everytime Miss Daisy tells Hoke that he's her best friend, I cry. *smile* *sniff*

"I bet the Georgia power company is having a Merry Christmas."

I also like getting up at 10:30 and sitting on my ass watching movies on a Saturday afternoon.

Fabelhafte Fritag (Fabulous Friday)

I miss German. I really do. They don't celebrate Christmas for 3 months in Germany. They also don't have pumpkin flavored stuff, but, as of today, neither does Starbucks. No more pumpkin spice latte, and it's still about 2 WEEKS until Thanksgiving. They do have peppermint stuff, though... Blech!

In the search for "what to do next" I started looking at Kulturmanagement programs in Deutschland today. I would have to take a year to brush up on my German, and the program only offers an M.A. but it would be interesting. Alas, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect culminating degree. Need to meet with my advisor. Right now it seems Chicago, D.C. or Philadelphia have programs I might be interested in.

Other than growing pains, I've finally gotten rid of pains from my new running shoes. My Asics 2120s are almost broken in. YAY! I've run 17 miles since last Friday, including a long 7-mile run on Sunday. Good Job for me!

Other than that, Mr. Hot Date is away in Jamaica for vacation. :( I have no other hot date perspectives except for Special K who thinks we should get together for drinks sometime.(hmmm)Oh, and creepy stalker ex-boyfriend from 4 years ago who tends to call me every 6 months to see what's up. There ain't nothin' up, dude. I ignore you now. Bu-bye.

Holiday fun, already.

I'm sure you all figured out last year how much I LOVE the holiday season, especially celebrating early. And how much I think singing Christmas Carols about snow in California is appropriate. NOT!

So Wayne and Garth bring to you...

Christmas Carols for the Psychologically Challenged. (I got this from a co-worker. I thank him tremendously!)

1) Schizophrenia---- Do You Hear What I Hear, the Voices, the Voices?

2) Amnesia-- I Don't Remember If I'll be Home for Christmas

3) Narcissistic-- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

4) Manic-- Deck The Halls And Walls And House And Lawn And Streets And Stores And Office And Town And Cars And Buses And Trucks And Trees And Fire Hydrants And...........

5) Multiple Personality Disorder----We Three Queens Disoriented Are

6) Paranoid---Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Us!

7) Borderline Personality Disorder--- You Better Watch Out, You Better not Shout, I'm Gonna Cry, and I'll not Tell You Why

8) Full Personality Disorder--- Thoughts of Roasting You On an Open Fire

9) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

10) Agoraphobia---I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House

11) Senile Dementia---Walking In a Winter Wonderland Miles from My House in My Slippers and Robe

12) Oppositional Defiant Disorder---I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House

13) Social Anxiety Disorder---Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

14) Attention Deficit Disorder--We Wish You......Hey Look!! It's Snowing!!!

Ravi Rocks!

After 4 years of "meaning-to-goes" or "just-missed-its", I finally saw Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka Shankar Sunday night in Santa Cruz. It was Raga-tastic and Tala-rific. I was accompanied by my musically-savvy chica, NoeBoe, for an evening of transcendental, pentatonic vibrations. (Yes, we were drug-free for this experience.)

What a fantastic crowd; I have such an appreciation for Santa Cruzers! You had everything from the devout classical listener to the dread-locked hippie. They all nodded and applauded. There were three standing ovations: One for the entrance of Guru Shankar, one for a FABULOUS tabla solo, and a very LONG one at the end.

Ravi Shankar is 87! I had no idea how frail he was. He couldn't sit on the floor anymore, and needed people to bring him onstage. Then, low and behold, he started to play and you stopped worrying about him. Until you've seen an 87 year old man rock out on an instrument more difficult than a guitar (7 strings - HA!) you haven't seen anything. His daughter, Anoushka, also amazing, had a lot more dexterity than her father, but Ravi was definitely the one pushing the tonal and rhythmic limits for the entire group. I should also mention that Anoushka has quite a career ahead of her - she's really bringing a lot of sitar music into western classical and even pop music.

I was inspired. Very rarely do you see such competent musicians, let alone to see them work together spiritually, while, of course, rocking hard core on classical instruments. It was much more like watching a jazz combo than a classical group. I can't say as much for choral singers or orchestral players. (Very beautiful, but boring to watch indeed.)

Ravi and/or his daughter are in the Bay Area a couple times a year. I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of very much. But, I'd like to see the Shankars again next year.

Fabulous Friday - Frozen Pizza

I'm starting a segment called "Fabulous Friday" in order to make myself accountable to my tens of blog readers (HA). If I start slacking off, you need to find me, call me, write me, email me, message me, and pull me out of the hole. There! Now I've made YOU accountable.

Let me remind you all of the fabulous things that my blogalicious friends have been doing lately: Arethusa, recently promoted; Helga, recently licensed; Saba, soon to be working one job; George, don't know but probably doing something fabulous.

As for me, I've run about 14 miles since last Friday (not bad), and have a Student Development project underway. I also have a hot date on Saturday. :)It's amazing that I don't feel a whole lot better this week than in less healthy weeks. The roommate tells me that stress causes fat because it's comforting to the body. Makes sense, I guess. I can't do anything at this point to take a few busy hours out of my day; all I can do is use the hours I have free to eat well, exercise, be well, and thrive. (Oh, crap, that was a Kaiser commercial!)

Sometimes I look to my Midwestern roots to make myself feel better. Every time I go home to the Midwest, it amazes me how inactive most people are. I am also appalled by the food choices. After last winter, I have eaten Kung Pao Shrimp for the LAST time in a Midwestern restaurant. Frozen shrimp - argh. Midwesterners live longer though - frozen food and all.

I will admit, though that I enjoy a frozen pizza from time to time, although these days it's usually the Trader Joe's variety. I can't help the frozen pizza eating. It's apparently in my blood.

Read fun article, Midwest: frozen pizza capital of the U.S.

Professional (Personal) Development

I think one thing my employer does very well is incoporating HR professional development workshops into the workplace. Workshops are voluntary and free. Currently, I'm taking Business Writing. The instructor is an English Professor, and the students are staff members from all over campus: Student Life, Admissions, Development, Engineering, IT, and the Provost's Office. These workshops are not only informative, but also very good networking opportunities. LOVE THEM.

Another professional development workshop just caught my eye; I love when life events come full-circle or are tied to one another.

Tuesday, November 6 - Emotional Intelligence with (Name Here)

Which do you think is a more accurate predictor of life success: A
person's emotional intelligence or a person's IQ? If you are like most
of us, you'd probably guess that IQ-a person's mental intelligence-is
more important. However, you'd be surprised to learn that a person's
emotional intelligence is actually more closely tied to life success.
This workshop will explore:The powerful forces that can result in an
individual's success

The factors that are linked with emotional intelligence

Your personal emotional intelligence level

My MA coursework this fall has revolved around Student Development, and emotional intelligence is part of all of Chickering's vectors (Check out links at right). I've also been thinking about emotional intelligence with regard to relationships. Most recently, about my own emotional intelligence, and my former partner's emotional intelligence.

When parting ways, we (actually I) had a conversation about how much your college drinking (binging, drugs, etc) days lead into a poor development of emotional intelligence (further into other vectors such as "#4 Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships")and drinking further into your 30's doesn't allow you to ever develop the emotional intelligence that normal people have. This is part of the problem with alcoholics.

I seriously had this conversation with Mr.IQ>150 when we parted ways.

I'll let you know how I score on the Emotional Intelligence quiz. I've never had an IQ test. (I'd love for Mr.IQ>150 to be able to come with me!)

Please drink responsibly. :)