Goal: Running!

I just got back from a vacation at Disneyworld with my Mingwa ( Boston for friend) Leigh. We were roommates in Flight Attendant training and have been close friends ever since. We had a great time! I will post pictures later. Leigh has lost a ton of weight over the past six months and she did it by running. I kept admiring her super sexy trim legs. She told me she got them running. So, I want that and I am starting to run.

I bought an iPod app that is a 9 week 5K training program where I train three days a week. I started today and ran by the bay in Tampa. I had to run for 1 minute and walk for 1 1/2 min. I repeated that 8 times. Well, I did it!! It was a nice run and toward the end I was happy it was over and very proud of myself for actually doing it. I will probably blog about this running goal once a week. I hope I get those stellar legs I'm wanting. I may post pictures at the end if 9 weeks, but I'm not promising anything :)

Flying High!

I can't believe that I haven't updated my blog for almost a month! Let me just say in my own defense that I have been extremely busy with work and my social life. Two very great things!

I have been working a lot to make up for all the time I was off work sick. Right now I'm updating from Norfolk, VA. It is beautiful here and I wish I had more time to check the hotel and the area out. Note to self though, the food at this hotel is NOT very good. I will have to pack more food to eat next time I roll through here.

Yesterday I was in Oklahoma City. I was working out in the gym and the tornado alarms went off. Everyone in the hotel was instructed to go down to the basement. We were down there for about ten minutes and allowed to go back to our rooms after the storm passed. I read in the paper that there were five deaths in the neighboring counties from the tornadoes. Sad.

I did go to Huntington Beach Single's Conference. It was a blast and I will go again if I have the opportunity. I made a couple new friends and had a great time with old friends.

Zach came to visit me for Mother's Day Weekend. We had a great time! We hiked at St. Thomas, a town that was purchased by the Boulder Dam Project in the 1930s and flooded out for Lake Mead. The recent drought has uncovered the ruins, so we went and explored. It was kind of freaky because it was in the middle of nowhere and we were the only ones there. FREAKY!! Good thing I had my strong son there to protect me :)

We also went shopping, checked out a great pizza joint at Town Square and he took me to dinner at Kabuki Sushi! I loved it! We also went to see Barry Manilow!!!! He was a great sport for going and it was a fun show.

I love it when he visits and I really hope he can visit again soon! I miss him already.

Those 5 Pounds!

I have returned back to work after a six week absence due to having Pnuemonia and facturing a rib coughing. It's really nice to be back. I have no complaints about that. The only complaint I have right now is the five pounds I gained while sitting at home getting better. I want it to be gone RIGHT NOW!! I worked out today, a very wimpy workout because my rib still kind of hurts, but I am very proud of myself. I had to wear my "fat pants" for work and I barely fit into my jeans. I know that I will lose some weight just walking around at work, but I am very impatient about this. I want those five pounds gone!

Advice from a Friend

Today I spoke with a friend who gave me some advice. He asked about my dating life and I told him that it is nonexistent, which is 100% true! I told him that I thought it was because I'm at a weird age, 36, where guys my age are looking for younger girls and guys older than I are looking to not have any more kids or are just weird if they haven't been married yet. He asked me what I do to throw my interest out there? I replied that I throw parties and invite the guys who I'm interested in or I attend functions and make sure they are going to be there. He told me that I need to flirt to show my interest. He also told me that if I wanted to ask out a guy, to just do it. I then told him that I am fearful of rejection. He told me that guys get rejected all the time and it's no big deal. I then quoted the line from the pig on Toy Story, "I just don't know if I can take that kind of rejection!" He laughed, then got down to business.

He suggested for the flirting that I do "The Elbow Touch." He wasn't the first guy friend of mine to suggest this. I couldn't believe that this is a real flirting tool! I don't even know how to do this! I guess I'll have to try it at HB Single's Conference in a couple of weeks. There will be a ton of men that I will be able to experiment on.

As for asking out a guy, he suggested I ask him out of ice cream. He compared this to asking someone to have coffee, but since we are dealing with Mormons, he suggested the ice cream. He said if it is enjoyable, then try for another date. I admit that this sounds easy enough, but I really don't like the fact that I may have to ask the guy out.

This all feels a little weird and I guess I will have to force myself to do both things because I don't want to be alone all my life, even though not getting involved or dating would be easier. Ugghh!!! Here it goes...

Good Times with Luke!

My nephew, Luke, is here visiting me for a couple of days. I have three nieces and three nephews who all live in Kaysville, Utah. When each of them turn eight, they get to fly on an airplane all by themselves and come to visit Auntie Angela. It's kind of like their "right of passage." Those who have already visited, nieces, all talk about how cool it was and all the fun things they did on their visit. So, Luke came with HUGE expectations and has not been disappointed!

We have watched Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief, How to Train a Dragon in 3D, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Astro Boy. Percy Jackson and How to Train a Dragon were Awesome! The other two I kind of slept through, but Luke loved them. We also went hiking today and now my rib is hurting. Man! How long is this injury going to hurt? Luke loved it so it was worth it. We also had a picnic, went to a pizza buffet and played a lot of Xbox 360. He really loves the Indiana Jones game and Karaoke Revolution. I have completely enjoyed my time with him. He is so sweet! He has been waking up at 6am and playing Xbox without the sound so I won't wake up. He is such a kind and gentle little boy. I am very fortunate and grateful that his parents allow him to visit. I am blessed!

I am feeling better day-by-day and have been forcing myself to get out of the house and walk around, even if it's only around the neighborhood. My rib is feeling better and I am still trying to control my cough. I lose it sometimes, but I am able to pretty much control my cough with my inhaler. I am hoping that next month I will be 100%.

WAAAAAAAA!!!!! Sniff, Sniff :(

Okay, so this is a painful time of the year...tax time. I hate it. I usually end up owing because I haven't had enough taken out and the same is true for this year too. I just filed my taxes with TurboTax, which by the way was awesome; even for a Flight Attendant and all my deductions, and sent everything off E-file. Technology has made my life easier in that aspect. No more standing in line at the post office waiting for an return signature card. Now, with a click of my mouse, I just sent it directly to the IRS. Knowing all this, it still doesn't make it any less painful to file and pay. Next year I vow not to pay. I am going to increase my deductions so I don't have to pay. This year was a couple thousand dollars. Yep, you can re-read that, but yes, that is what I had to pay. That is why on a Friday night, this beautiful, single and successful independent girl is crying and throwing a tantrum like a baby. Who knows? Maybe next year I won't owe and get a refund. Ha! I doubt it with the passage of O'BamaCare.

Pancakes!

Yesterday I woke up craving pancakes. I had purchased a new cookbook and there was a very simple recipe for pancakes that promised they were unbelievable! So, I tried it. It was VERY easy and extremely yummy. I will never buy another pancake mix again! The recipe made about 7-8 pancakes so I ate two (barely) and froze the others. I had two frozen ones this morning and they were still delicious. These are quick and can be on the table within 10 minutes. Here is the recipe:

Fluffy, Thick Homestyle Pancakes
1 1/2 C. flour
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/4 C. milk
1 egg
3 Tbsp. butter, melted

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and melted butter; mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 C. for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot. Makes 8 servings.

Recipe is from Worldwide Ward Cookbook.

I also slept through the night last night for the first time in three weeks! It's been great! I thought I would be really bored staying home all this time, but I've been really tired and sleeping most of the day. It just means my body is repairing :)