the signs of overworking

I generally work longer than typical hours- my job is not a 9 to 5 job, which is a large part of the reason I love it.  I am a part of something bigger than myself, a national movement to end educational inequity.

In fact, in my employee handbook, it states that my salary is based on a fifty hour work week and that is what I should average throughout the year.  Typically, I'm over, but it doesn't always feel like.

Until it does.

I can always tell when I have been working too many hours.  There are two very large signs:

1. It's summer and the days are longer however I still leave for work as the sun rises and get home after the sun has set.
2. My time awake, at home, is less than my total time at work including my commute.  
1. Example given: I commute and work from 7:15 to 9:15 (14 hours), am awake at home from 9:15-11:15 (2 hours), sleep from 11:15 to 6:45 (7.5 hours) and wake up and repeat.

What are your signs of overworking?

'Cuz we're the girls of rock 'n' roll!

This evening, as I was driving home, I was thinking of things that make me happy.  Something that, always, absolutely never ceases to make me happy is my all time favorite childhood movie.

It's called The Chipmunk Adventure.

From intrigue around what are obviously blood diamonds, a world wide adventure via hot air balloons to the cutest, most adorable baby penguin ever, there is nothing better than Alvin, Theodore, Simon AND the Chipettes- Eleanor, Brittany and Jeanette!

My favorite girl rock anthem comes from this "film" and to beat your Monday/Tuesday doldrums, I present:

I hope this made you smile.  It sure made my day!

What's your favorite childhood movie?

things I never thought would actually happen

At the top of the list of things I never would have believed would happen was husband reading the Harry Potter series.

He had watched me obsess, pour my soul into, devour, read and re-read the story of this wonderful wizarding world.  Each time he laughed at me geeking out, I told him he'd love them if he just gave them a chance.  I don't think he actively avoided reading them....he just wasn't interested.

Then, he shocked me.  In early July, just before our second wedding reception in Idaho, he asked to borrow Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Year 1).  Then, on our trip, he finished it and instead of waiting, he bought the second one to read on the flight back. Actually purchased it instead of waiting the day to get home to a copy.

Color me surprised.  Over the past two months, he's avidly read every single book in the series, and tonight, as I write this, he is on the couch finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Year 7.)  We drove to a farewell BBQ for his brother going off to college and on the car ride, we were actually discussing the merits and misses of the final book.  It was nuts- a good kind of nuts though.  A lengthy discussion about certain deaths, the sort of empty feeling it leaves you with, the frustrations of the first five hundred pages and the hope that the final pieces all line up.

Has your sig other ever done something because they knew it was important to you?

Nothing breaks up a day on the couch like a 1.5 mile run

Topher just walked downstairs and said:
"You know, it's not often that we sit around and do nothing together.  We should do it more."

I wholeheartedly agree, dear sir.  We spent the daylight hours enjoying Netflix movies, Harry Potter and our adorably annoying dog.

However, we did break the monotony of sitting on our asses by going for a run. It's a gorgeous day evening and so much cooler than it's been here in the DC area- a mere 80 instead of 95.  I could almost feel a cool breeze.

Now, here's the sitch, friends.  I like to claim myself as athletic.  I was overwhelmingly invested in soccer in my younger years and when that lost its fun, I ran cross country.  Somewhere, in the last six years (as I've discussed, at length), I lost my athleticism.

Now, this wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for my husband.  Yes, my wonderful husband.  You see, he is currently much more athletic and much more fit than I.

And I hate it.  In his younger years, he did NOT play year-round sports like I.  He was active, yes, but athletic? He'll hate me for saying so, but I wouldn't have put him in that category.  Then, a year ago, we both realized our impeding marriage and the flub from the college and grad school years were taking their toll on our fitness and our bodies.

So we started running.  At first, we both struggled with a mile.  Fast forward one year later, and he can run 3 miles without too much hassle and I still want to cut off my legs and cry after a mile and a half.  What sucks is that I know why he's more athletic than me and there isn't much I can do about it.

To begin with, he has more time.  He gets home before me, when daylight is usually still present and can go for a run around our neighborhood.  Secondly, he by far has more will power and stamina than me.  He's the one that encourages us to run on weekends, drags me pouting to the track, and is able to choose the water over the diet Coke.  If it weren't for him, I really might eat Magic Shell more often than I drank water.

Finally, he's reached that ultimate place as a runner that you dream of- that place where running feels better than NOT running.  Where your body practically begs you to go running because it craves it, physically and hormone-releasing-ly.  Where the first mile sucks, but usually you can push yourself on because a) you've done it before and you know it's not too bad and/or b) you're actually experiencing that runner's high that makes the act of pounding the pavement FULFILLING.

Topher has said on multiple occasions he feels younger now than he did even a year ago because he's more physically fit.  When I hear that, I want to hug and punch him.  I'm so proud of his will power, his stamina, his athleticism, his commitment to health and movement.  And I'm jealous that here I am, the one that isn't.  I don't take losing well, and it's a bit just like losing.

Luckily, my husband is humble and helps me move past my sore-loser-ness every time I want to punch him.  He lets me give him running tips because he knows if I can't do, I'll teach.  He lets me pout but encourages me to run anyway.  And he lets me fire words like "patronizing" at him when we both know all he's doing is pushing me to keep going and keep running.

So cheers, husband, for winning.  But watch you're back- because I will get my athleticism back and you won't be able to lap me on our said little loop someday. :)

It's been a really exhausting two weeks.

That's probably no excuse for being MIA, but I'm back! I'm sorry for the absence and I probably lost a few readers with my lackluster posting...hope you come back!

Work has been pretty hectic, overly stressful and incredibly time consuming these past two weeks. Anyone else?

In the vein of complete honestly, let me share this: I've dedicated myself to running 3 miles in under 35 minutes (a sad place to start, but a start at least), have gotten quite close, haven't eaten meat but once when I broke down on a very long day and had a McDonald's happy meal (which, actually, was totally worth it and delicious), have lost two pounds, and one night ate cheese on bread and chocolate Magic Shell for dinner.

The last statement above was clearly a poor life decision and the worst 1200 calories I've eaten in a long while.  It also, was delicious.  Anyone else know the joy of Magic Shell?

It's like the chocolate from dipped cones and I.love.it.so.much.  I drink it straight from the bottle. It's shameful. And I've just shared it with the world wide web.  

What's your shameful pleasure?

I used to hate eggplant

And now I lurve it!

There have been many, many delicious meat-free meals this past week (nearly all of which Topher crafted...) and I had to share two of my favorites with you!

The first was quite simple and born of my desire to eat guacamole.  Toph obliged and whipped up his classic, delicious gauc and a summer salad with yummy strawberries.

Aren't you loving our challis style cups I made us buy a few years back at the Renaissance Festival?

Yum, gaucamole!

There are few things better in the summer than fresh strawberries.

The dinner was light, simple and delicious.

Tonight, we went to Trader Joe's for some yummy, over priced, organic fruits and veggies.  Last weekend, I gave eggplant another try (I've always liked the flavor but hated the slimy, chewy texture) in the form of eggplant parmesan and I actually liked it.  So we bought some at Trader Joe's tonight and Topher tried to make it extra crispy.

I was a bit worried, and asked him if we could make something additional to, so he whipped up some delicious home made pizza with mozzarella and roma tomatoes.

Both were delicious!

Happy dining, from our kitchen to yours!

what the hecka is THAT itch?

No, I'm not talking about a sexually transmitted disease or anything nasty.

I'm talking about the baby itch.

I wouldn't have believed you three months ago if you'd have told me that the desire to get knocked up hits once you're married. Yeah, right, that's such BS.

I was such an idiot.

I'll admit, the "itch" most certainly doesn't happen for everyone.  I know many married women who say "will I ever WANT, like really WANT to have a kid?"  I also know many who didn't know they wanted kid until some crazy itch kicked in post-wedding.

For the past month, I can't stop myself from thinking,"how wonderful would it be to give birth to another life? A little face that's a little bit me, a little bit Topher?"

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? I'm not yet 25, we've been married three months, and there is still SO much I and we want to do before we bring kiddos into the picture.  Yet, I can't help but get excited four days out of the week about the idea of having a babe.

I even spent a good two hours on this amazing site the other weekend and spent a lunch discussing birth plans with Topher, to whom I of course had to explain what a birth plan was.  That was fun...

I know it's not the right time.  Yet, I still keep having dreams that I'm pregnant....

Anyone else get the "itch," not getting it, commiserating with me?