Happy Spring! Its been awhile, and having checked out my sister's blog, I am inspired once more to write in my. I've been struggling with being sick for quite sometime now, but things are getting better and I'm SO happy the weather has been nice. I've been out on bike rides and am really loving my new bike. I can't wait to get my kayak out on the lake too. I got a fishing license and I have a plan to "fish for food" this summer. I'm also going to take yoga classes on the beach at Diamond Point starting mid-June. I'm really excited about that because I've always wanted to try yoga. Asya is going to be going with me, so that makes it all the more exciting. I'm also going to San Francisco in July for a training.. which means I get to TRAVEL! I've been aching to go somewhere.. even though this is only for 6 day, I'm just excited to be in Cali again. I'm missing my nephews and niece, sis and mom like crazy, so I'm planning to send a few weeks over on the Iron Range this summer too. I know I need to try to get a job this summer (I've applied at a bunch), but now that I'm looking at it, I'm not sure I'll have time! ;)

Wintery Days, Hot Mochas and Fresh Starts

Well, an update on the gym... I haven't gone since last monday. I am finding it very difficult to be motivated to go. I really dislike the atmosphere in there (and sadly that is my best excuse, which is really no excuse at all). My back has also been really sore since my last run. I will try to go today, but I'm not making any promises. I think with the way things are going, it would be unrealistic to plan on running the Fargo Half Marathon. That race is a month earlier than Grandma's, which means that I would have to start training a month early. By the first week in February I should already be up to 3 miles (probably not going to happen). I was hoping to register for Fargo after the first week of March if I don't get into Grandma's (which is a lottery system that I have not been pick for for the past two years). I will just hope I get picked in the lottery and I am vowing NOT to registering for the FULL Marathon on a whim if I'm not picked!

Today there is no school and thus no work for me. I'm suppose to go in later for a meeting about sexting, but the weather isn't the greatest. We have a winter storm warning until 6 tonight.. Gusting winds, cold, and snow. So, if anyone didn't know this yet, I really hate winter. I've probably already mentioned that in my blog, but I really really hate winter. I love being outside in the sun and being warm.. which is why I love summer. I have a strong dislike for being cold, but most of all I don't like the long, dark, dreary days of this season that make me feel so cooped up and trapped. I hate the dry skin, the static, getting bundled up in multiple layers, and everything else associated with winter. The snow can be pretty and I like when it looks like a wintery wonderland at Christmas time. After Christmas, however, winter feels completely and utterly pointless to me. I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in which the lack of sunlight makes you feel down with a lack of energy. I have a light box, which is suppose to help (although its not currently helping me because its at my mom's house). SO.. since I live in Northern MN, I need to find ways of making it through the winter. Exercising helps A LOT, so I really need to do that more. You know, I feel like I talked about all this in my first blog! I guess I just feel that strongly about my dislike for winter. I think going to Atlanta in 3 weeks will be nice.. it will be warmer and I can just get away a little.

I bought myself pretty, bright springy looking flowers the other day. That made me happy. Anyway, I have to get going for the day.. :)

A Success and a Not so Success

Well, I made it to the gym on Monday! And I worked out! I "ran" for 2 miles (in which I speed walked for about 1 mile) and did work on the the weight machines. Sigh.. however, I haven't been back since and its now Wednesday night. I'm still pretty sore and its really hard to find the motivation to go after work. I think if I were to remember to bring my gym gear with me to work it would be better because once I get home after work it is really difficult to leave again (mostly because of the cold). My knee hurts a little now, but it didn't hurt while I was exercising, which is a good sign. So tomorrow the goal is to bring my gym bag and go after work.

I've also be so tired lately. I've gotten in a bad pattern of going to bed really late, having to wake up early and then I'm dragging all day. After work I'm so exhausted that I end up talking a nap for an hour or two and the cycle begins again. I feel old talking about taking naps and being "so tired."

Speaking of old, I'm going to be 27 in a few weeks. I typically don't like birthdays.. not because I don't like celebrating them, but because I don't like telling people that its my birthday (or when it is) and then I am secretly sad when no one blinks an eye at it. Sounds pretty immature actually. Growing up we always made kind of a big deal out of birthdays. We weren't the type of kids that got birthday "parties" per say, but my mom always decorated the entire house with streamer and balloons and it was a whole day of little surprises that made you feel special. A few years ago when I was living in the apartments at Oak Hills, my amazing roommates put together a really special day. Tami and Tiffany basically had cards and candy and little gifts given to me all throughout the day at my different classes and jobs. It didn't really end well, but that's a different story ;0. So, this year I might end up being in Atlanta with Karl for my birthday. He has a work conference down there and knows some friends so I might be able to tag along. That might make for an eventful birthday. We shall see.

I'm kind of in a bad mood today. I'm not exactly sure why. Its really clouding and gloomy out though so that might have a role to play. I'm still trying to find some meaning and purpose to living in Northern Minnesota. This is especially hard to swallow when I see what is going on in Haiti.. relief work has always had a special place in my heart and for a long time now I've really felt that that was what God has called me to do. I know I need to just be better about trusting Him with the details because right now that type of life feels very far away. Financially I can not even begin to imagine how I could afford to quit my job and either volunteer or get paid only living expenses. Between student loans and other things even losing my current job would be pretty detrimental. I just want to go though. I have itchy feet again and I'm having a really hard time getting through the "daily grind." I never really pictured myself being the person who had an "office" job.. working 8-4 Monday-Friday. So, I guess I'm still that lost girl from the early college years whose still trying to figure out what I want to do :)

I'm hoping to get more involved in a church here. Its hard in some ways because I don't really feel connected and I know how much effort that take to become connected. I do know that I need to take the initiative and just make it happen.. but sometimes its hard to put forth that effort all the time. Making friends as an adult definitely feels a little harder. In college most people are looking to make new friends and everyone is just kind of stewing in one pot so it makes getting to know people at least more accessible. Adults, however, have careers, often times have families and set group of friends. Adults definitely aren't as good at branching out (at least in my experience thus far). And I am certainly no exception. I just don't want to get stuck in a slump, and like I said, if I'm going to live here I have to make it work.. so here's to "making it work!"

My skeptical entrance into blogging...

Last year was my first time having a "real" blog that I actually updated on a regular basis. I had it for about 2 months during the time when I was in Uganda. This served as a really great way of being family and friend updated with stories and photos since it would have be difficult to send emails to everyone individually. When I returned home I didn't see a real pressing need in having a blog anymore. I have facebook and I text, talk to, or see most of the people that I have relationships with, so why would I need a blog in addition to that? After taking a look at my sister's blog with new pics of the kids on it, I realized that having a blog is pretty nice for people with families because they would have a lot of updates to give about their growing family. But me with a blog? Why on earth would anyone want to read the blog of a single woman living in northern Minnesota with no real news to report? My consensus? NO ONE! But I decided that this is going to be for me if nothing else. I used to journal a lot and I think sense I got a "career" job I lost interest in it because my life doesn't exactly feel very adventurous anymore. However, I'd like to change that. I need to find a way of making what I'm doing right now meaningful to me. If I don't do that, it makes me feel like I've lost part of myself (the spontaneous, adventurous Jenny that still exists somewhere inside).

So how can I possibly make my life in what sometimes feels like the coldest and most boring place in the world interesting? Well since its currently in the middle of the flipping winter, I need to have a long-term goal to be accomplished in spring/summer that I need to be working to fulfill now... The GOAL: TO RUN GRANDMA'S HALF MARATHON on June 19th, 2010. I ran the full marathon last year and finished (yay!) but it was not pretty and I ended up hurting my knee. Due to no insurance and me being lazy, I've do nothing so far to help my knee get better except for not running. Can you guess where this is going? Yep, I have not ran since last summer (June last year to be exact). So therefore, this is going to be a little tough going at first.

Its January 18th, 2010 and I need to work up to a 5-k (3+ miles) by the beginning of March. This means that I need to start TODAY. A few weeks ago I toured a few gyms and discovered that although I liked it the least, SNAP Fitness is by far the cheapest place to workout. So to conserve on cash, I will be signed up for a membership today at Snap. The game plan today is to use the weight machines to do some work on my quads and calves to help build support for my knee. I'll do some low-impact cardio on an elliptical to start with and go for there as I feel my knee getting stronger. If anyone has any advice out there, please let me know!

I've also decided to join one or two Community Ed classes. The first of which could be considered a sort of "cross-training".... belly dancing! This starts next week and should be interesting.

So if anyone is actually reading this, you've been forewarned my purpose here is really a place for me to kind of journal I guess. I'm not looking to entertain anyone or keep anyone interested... I just need an outlet and this works for me right now.