Will this Week Never End???

I never thought I would want to rush the final full week of summer, but GOOD LORD this is week dragging on!!!   Can we just get on with it already?  It certainly didn't help that Wayne started classes, which raised the bar on hectic in my office.  Walk-ins were, as always, a treat.  The first day was by far the most bizarre, but the next four had their own doozies.  Every day feels like it should be a day later.  Every hour seems like it is two hours earlier than it should be. 

Of course, it could be the prospect of a four day weekend (I took the first day of school off) that has dragged this one out.  Next week will seem like a breeze.  In the meantime, when the whistle blows at 5pm tomorrow.....look out world!!!!

Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be.....Walk-ins!

Anyone who has been my friend for any length of time, either on Facebook or "for real", is well aware of the term "walk-ins" and what it means in my world. For the few souls who have escaped my kvetching - I work as an undergraduate advisor for a major university and, while I usually see students on an appointment basis, ocassionally we have "walk-in days" to accommodate "emergencies" and/or the chronically underprepared. That Latter part of that sentence is largely redundant. And, as a wise woman once said, there are no EMERGENCIES in higher education. But I digress.

As we are fast approaching the start of the semester, our five-day walk-in period started today bright and early at 8:30am. (Actually I am guessing more like 7:45am for some, as we had a line all the way through the computer lab from our front door when we came in)

Now, I distinctly recall only a few years ago being adamantly required to register my son for soccer by August 1st or risk him missing the entire Fall season, NO EXCEPTIONS. So it makes me CRAZY when my students wait until late August to register for classes. This is your EDUCATION, people!!! Registration for Fall opens in mid-March! With a few tiny exceptions, everyone should be able to register. Tuition is not due until August. Save your spots!!

But no, every year we have a parade of students who sit forlornly for hours in our lobby. Some bring parents, some have small children in tow, many have the nerve to have attitude about the length of their wait. Today was no exception.

Some of my favorite examples:

*My very first student of the day, returning to school after a few years. She was a talker. Talk talk talk. Told me her story endlessly, talked through my questions to her for clarification. Talked through my answers to HER questions. Told me all about her need to pursue Psychology because she has been told she is "an excellent listener who really helps people." Did I mention she was a CLOSE talker? When looking at her registration on the computer, she leaned so far over her nose was less than a foot from my cleavage. Honey, you're going to have to by me dinner first next time.

*Sisters who argued with each other throughout 95% of their time in my office. One sister was already a Junior while the other was an incoming Freshman. The Frosh did not attend Orientation because Sis told her she didn't need to and she would help her register. The problem? Junior sister is a Business major and Frosh sister is Pre-Med. Only one of the courses she scheduled could be salvaged. Their 5% moment of total unity? When I dared suggest that, in the future, the girls seek advice from actual advisors. Apparently I was unappreciative of Junior's obvious um, talents and knowledge. "She was just trying to help and she has done just fine and she's only seen an advisor once." I sneaked a peek - I couldn't help it. The "talented" one is carrying a 2.17 gpa.

*The incoming transfer student who was admitted in April and has met with an advisor not once, but twice and is STILL NOT REGISTERED! Allegedly that is a lot of pressure to commit.

*Numerous, NUMEROUS students who applied and were admitted since August 20th. It frustrates me to no end that we allow it in the first place. But really people? Take a little responsibility here. You want full college services in ten days or less? Oh yes, and classes that work for YOUR schedule. Um, did I mention? Soccer - August 1st - for ten year olds!!!!

I could go on and on. As a matter of fact, I just might. But it will have to continue another time. I have to rest up for Day 2. It only gets more desperate from here.....

The Cake was the Boss

Soooooo......the next time you hear me say bake without "ry" at the end of it - QUICK - distract me! Break out the wine, bring up some good gossip, just gently lead me away from the kitchen. It is definitely time for an intervention.

I'm not a bad cook. I'm not inspired and effortless like my mom and sister, but I can churn out a decent family meal and occasionally the "PTO cookbook worthy" appetizer or salad.

Baking is a different story. Why oh why did I not listen to my mother last night when she responded to my enthusiasm for baking a cake from scratch with the observation that Costco makes excellent red velvet cakes??? Not only does this woman know all things food, she has a pretty good beat on me, having known me for some 42 years!

How bad is it, you might ask. Really Kim, what could possibly go so wrong? Well, it started with red velvet cake. And I mean so red I felt like I was channeling my inner Twilight. Truly, it looked a little scary.

Then against all of my self-knowledge, I started "multitasking" - finishing up the cake which making cookie dough and prepping the cream cheese frosting all the while putting away staples like flour and sugar. Which explains why I emptied the flour bag into the sugar bin. ARGH!

I also should have paid attention to the multiple times my 15 year old dropped into the kitchen and then walked back out shaking her head and giggling.

Thankfully I was nearing the end of what I planned to accomplish when my finger got caught in the mixer. And it's probably testament to my baking induced insanity that my first thought was "I'll be pissed if I'm bleeding in the white cream cheese frosting - why couldn't it be the cake batter.". (FYI - I wasn't't bleeding). My remedy was to brew a cup of tea and lick the icing bowl and spatula until my finger stopped throbbing.

Surprisingly, I think the results may actually be more than just edible. In the meantime, that's an entire Monday evening I can never get back.

Fair Weather Writing

So another month has passed in silence.  My resolve to write daily, or at least steadily?  Back in the toilet.

Why? Why? WHY?

Lack of time?  Nope, not this time.  Busy as every, but not too busy to jot something down.

Lack of energy?  No, I have had highs and lows but for the most part pretty steady.

Lack of material?  I had one kid start high school and another middle school in that time period.  Material I've got.  In spades!

I think material may be the problem, but not "lack of".  As I scroll back over posts, most of them deal with funny anecdotes, proud moments, interesting observations.  Other than describing my breast cancer battle which was written well after and even then from a fairly humorous point of view, I don't "do" frustration and anger.  And that, my friends, has been my problem for the past month or so.

July saw me ramping up my 3-Day training and getting into yoga - I felt GREAT and was excited about where it was taking me.  And then my knee began to ache.  And ache.  And ache some more.

And then it caved.

So for the past month I have been dealing with the ridiculously long, drawn-out process of diagnosing the problem (A minor tear to my meniscus, thank you.  And minor?  What would MAJOR feel like - yikes!)  Never mind the curing of it.  Other than fully staying off it for a week, which definitely helped, and some great drugs I've had nothing.  Physical therapy has not yet started (they are clearly overbooked) and I am left wobbling around, wondering about my 3-Day status.

You see?  I don't do grumpy well.  It's just not my thing.  I have a hard time expressing frustration in writing and believing anyone would want to read it.  Hence the absence.  

I recognize this is something a GOOD writer should be able to do.  So I am.  Or at least I am trying.

Here I go with the cross promotion again!

You would think two sisters would be capable of bullying each other enough to keep us motivated and on track with our training, right?  Apparently Eileen and I are WAY too nice to be successful via a mere training log.

So check out our new "tool" - our training blog: 

http://chicktheattitude.blogspot.com/

Feel free to bully us via comments.  Also, enjoy all the crazy antics and observances as we walk into oblivion.

EWF

For the past few weeks I have been working hard on my training for the upcoming Komen 3 Day in Washington DC.  I thought it was the least I could do, since many of you have so graciously stepped up and taken care of most of my fundraising (only $80 to go!!)  My sister has spurred me on from afar - we are training "together" through our shared training log on Google.  4 days a week I am walking, 2 days cross training, with one day of rest. 

At least that's the ideal schedule. 

And except for a random week or few days here and there, we have been fairly true to it.  Some of my crosstraining has been on the elliptical but more and more I am opting to go to yoga classes.  For anyone who scoffs at the idea of yoga as "training" - let me tell you how completely soaked in sweat this uncoordinated body gets during even a short forms ashtanga or a basic class!

I feel great!

Or at least I felt great.  A couple of weeks ago I started having random pains down my right outer calf, shooting from my knee.  The knee itself seemed okay.  And it was mostly while driving, so I blamed it on my shoes and usually kicked them off to seek relief.  As days went by, it increased, nagging me at night and other times when I was at rest.  Ironically, activity brought relief.  I had almost no pain, other than some initial stiffness at the start, when walking, using the elliptical or performing yoga.

This week the pain got more intense until yesterday when I looked down and noticed I had this weird concave spot on my knee.  Naturally I completely freaked out.  Cancelled my yoga class reservation, came straight home to the couch to ice and raise my knee.  Then called my good friend and doctor (poor man) who always gets our random calls and certainly must believe us to be complete hypochondriacs.  He invited us over so he could take a look.

The diagnosis?

EWF

Exercising While Fat.  Yep.  That's it.  My poor knee isn't used to this much regular and consistent level of training and is rebelling. 

The cure, though, is to get some of this weight off of it so it's not such a strain.  So it's back to training I go.  Carefully and with plenty of rest and ice in between.  Oh, and naproxen (Aleve)?  My new best friend!


P.S.  I think I need to copyright EWF because I doubt I'm alone.  European Weightlifting Federation be damned!

P.P.S.  No, my doctor did not actually state that in his diagnosis - that's my own synopsis of it!

Reminds me of a story

Thanks for all the encouragement in light of my "despair" (ok, potential lameness) of the last post!  Your kind words and fresh ideas re inspired me.

My favorite by far, however, was from my friend Colleen.  Um, duh - pen and paper Kim.  She didn't quite say it like that, but she probably should have!!!

Reminds me of one of my favorite stories of all time.

Once upon a time, long ago (let's say 17 or 18 years, shall we?) John and I were invited to spend some time with John's best man (and my good friend) Eric at his delightful parents' cottage in Paradise, Michigan.  (Actually, I meant his parents are delightful.  However, I remember the cottage as a pretty great getaway as well!)

We stayed, we saw, we hiked, we played, we ate (of course), we tried out Mr. Smith's newly hooked up shower (individually, thank you). 

Ultimately, at some point we were lazing around on bunks, chairs, etc.  I was reading.  I distinctly remember Eric yawning and saying, "I wish I brought my laptop, I'd really like to play some solitaire."

At which point I very exaggeratedly rolled my eyes and pointed to the two decks of playing cards on the table.  I remember thinking very haughtily, "I'll never be that dependent on technology."

So, I take Colleen's response as a very good-natured eye roll which I very much deserved.  And, since I'm not going to buy a new laptop at this time, perhaps I will splurge on a very nice notebook and fancy pen!  Let the writing roll on!