Let me describe for you my pant situation. I noticed that I had an actual pants situation when I saw my reflection in the glass train door this morning on the way to work. The other day, I went to buy cargo pants one size larger than normal (as I have gained the infamous freshman 15-about 16 years after the fact). I just grabbed off the rack per my previous size and bought the next size up. When I got home, they fit perfectly around the waist-but apparently skinny jeans are now bleeding into the cargo pant design. The pants I bought taper down to the ankles. This is simply stupid in of itself. However, based on my waist size, I am apparently supposed to also have much larger legs. I believe the pants are supposed to be tight ala skinny jeans style but because my ‘waist’ to ‘rest of body’ ratio is not ‘gapperfection’ I have baggy pant legs that taper at the ankles-kind of like those muscle pants back in the MC hammer days. I must say-I look ridiculous…..ly good. And there you go…..reason number 83 why exercising every day will do my body (and my wardrobe) good– I can ditch these muscle pants and crawl back into the early 2000’s and my adorable bootleg jeans again. ;)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thought I'd Make Friends With Time
I missed the train. Damn! It pulled out of the station just as I was running up to the stop. Checked the transit tracker and another train is not scheduled to arrive for another 25 minutes. I am so tempted to drive into work at this point because i would just be hitting downtown about the same time the next train would pull in. and I'm already running a little late as it is due to my daughter's orthodontist appointment this morning. But parking costs ten bucks! Is 25-30 minutes worth ten dollars?
Let's do the math. If you make 20 dollars an hour at work, you would break even. Get to work 30 minutes earlier but spend that money on your parking. Bethca didn’t know I was a mathematician as well. If you're salaried, well then it's just a matter of time versus money right?
What is 25 minutes worth to you? To some of us it's not worth much. 25 minutes is easily dwindled away on the couch unwinding after work watching the tellie. Or surfing the interwebs at work. Or if you're like me, 25 minutes easily is wasted on – huh? what was that- what was I doing- oh yeah; 25 minutes easily wasted on me getting distracted and spacing out.
I like to be spontaneous and act in the moment. It's very natural for me. But spontaneity, not planning ahead… well these things ultimately are what contribute to me missing the train. Spontaneity can be a time bandit. And I like to embrace every moment I have in life. I don't want to take precious time for granted. What's a free spirited girl to do? Get one of those Wii balancing boards and learn the power of balance?
Life has so much to offer. So much! Holy crap you could knit a quarter of a mitten, catch up with your mom on the phone, make a sketch of the library you want to build (for me). I could do lunges on the train platform – (I do need to work out on a daily basis). I could write this blog. I could, I could, until it is I do and I did. Making friends with time today. How about you?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The courage to be kind
Soooo. I have always thought about writing a blog….I feel like I have a billion things I could write about but decided it should really have a focus. I commute on a daily basis, for the most part, to my office which is located in downtown Portland, Oregon. I take the max train 99.9% of the time but occasionally hit the bus for a little spice. While my headphones may be on, I am incredibly observant and find human interaction and behavior quite fascinating. In a time where Smart Phones dominate our visual acuity, we tend to miss the little things in life happening all around us. All those fun stories occurring right under our noses! When I catch myself glued to my phone screen, I remind myself of the phrase, ‘Look Up’. There is a lot of excitement there – or else I am just easily amused. I think both statements are true. So in this blog I will compile some of my observations and you will read them without judging me for my grammatical errors and misuse of punctuation. I am not asking this of you, I am demanding it from you. Do not judge me. I am a fragile soul with a very sensitive ego.
Here is your first entry-albeit a little rough (that’s what she said?).
It’s the little things right? The little things that matter. Even little acts of kindness can matter more than you think. This morning on my way to work, a lady was sitting down the aisle from me struggling to close a window that had swung open above her. The young man standing next to me, about 19 years old, walked the length of the train to assist her and together they were able to secure the window. It seemed like the obvious thing to do right? But I didn’t walk the length of the train to help her. Not one other passenger out of the 50 some people there offered to help her. It seems like such a simple act , yet it also makes us step out of our comfort zone. You have to talk to a stranger for goodness sake and possibly even make eye contact. You have to ask uncomfortable questions that may insult their pride. ‘Do you need help?’. The response may be ‘Of course I don’t you god forsaken ninny…..now leave me alone.’ Or you may embarrass the person. You don’t know. So most don’t bother to take the risk. There is a risk in being kind? Well yes –sort of-kind of- if you consider the aforementioned potential situations…. BUT in reality NO; there is no real risk at all (unless the lady hits you over the head with her umbrella or your fingers get smashed in the window you are trying to close….but this is beside the point right?).
Matter of fact, I am sure you have all heard about how performing acts of kindness actually improve health, make you happier, trigger groovy things in your brain, etc. Countless studies have proven this. So why do some of us forget to stand up and offer our seat to a senior, or someone using a cane, or a mom juggling a baby and a toddler? Are we really that wrapped up in our own little worlds that we do not actually see what is going on around us? [Yes, you-sitting on the train. There is a gentleman with a cane standing next to you. Maybe if you glanced up from your Iphone, you would have noticed that.] Or are we too scared to speak up, reach out, make that contact? Today-let’s take a challenge and find the courage to be kind. Not only is it good for you, it actually may inspire the person next to you…..or if you still want to be known as a despicable jerk, you can always do acts of kindness in secret. Ala Operation Beautiful http://operationbeautiful.com/
Pssst-here are a few links proving this kindness crud really does work. I swear by it!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100308151049.htm
http://www.suite101.com/content/acts-of-kindness-relieve-stress-improve-health-a131071
Here is your first entry-albeit a little rough (that’s what she said?).
It’s the little things right? The little things that matter. Even little acts of kindness can matter more than you think. This morning on my way to work, a lady was sitting down the aisle from me struggling to close a window that had swung open above her. The young man standing next to me, about 19 years old, walked the length of the train to assist her and together they were able to secure the window. It seemed like the obvious thing to do right? But I didn’t walk the length of the train to help her. Not one other passenger out of the 50 some people there offered to help her. It seems like such a simple act , yet it also makes us step out of our comfort zone. You have to talk to a stranger for goodness sake and possibly even make eye contact. You have to ask uncomfortable questions that may insult their pride. ‘Do you need help?’. The response may be ‘Of course I don’t you god forsaken ninny…..now leave me alone.’ Or you may embarrass the person. You don’t know. So most don’t bother to take the risk. There is a risk in being kind? Well yes –sort of-kind of- if you consider the aforementioned potential situations…. BUT in reality NO; there is no real risk at all (unless the lady hits you over the head with her umbrella or your fingers get smashed in the window you are trying to close….but this is beside the point right?).
Matter of fact, I am sure you have all heard about how performing acts of kindness actually improve health, make you happier, trigger groovy things in your brain, etc. Countless studies have proven this. So why do some of us forget to stand up and offer our seat to a senior, or someone using a cane, or a mom juggling a baby and a toddler? Are we really that wrapped up in our own little worlds that we do not actually see what is going on around us? [Yes, you-sitting on the train. There is a gentleman with a cane standing next to you. Maybe if you glanced up from your Iphone, you would have noticed that.] Or are we too scared to speak up, reach out, make that contact? Today-let’s take a challenge and find the courage to be kind. Not only is it good for you, it actually may inspire the person next to you…..or if you still want to be known as a despicable jerk, you can always do acts of kindness in secret. Ala Operation Beautiful http://operationbeautiful.com/
Pssst-here are a few links proving this kindness crud really does work. I swear by it!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100308151049.htm
http://www.suite101.com/content/acts-of-kindness-relieve-stress-improve-health-a131071
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