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Day 3


Today flew by. The schedule consisted of accounting, accounting and more accounting. I made a failed attempt to multitask by sitting outside trying to get a tan while using my computer to watch plant asset videos. I got an 86 on my test and still have a little homework to complete before midnight. 3 tests down, only 2 to go. Yay!

I only ran a mile today and I almost didn't get that far. The AC at the gym was up really high and as I ran I couldn't handle breathing the cold air. It felt like I was inhaling smoke. I finished my mile and came home. Hopefully, with the school pressure off my back for a few days, I can get in a longer exercise program tomorrow.


I had an amazing conversation with a friend last night. The subjects included everything from sexuality in the Bible to a debate concerning the old and new covenants. It was like Thanksgiving dinner for the mind. There was so much to chew on.

I found some beautiful verses in the book of Songs... I'll leave you with just a few...

"The kisses of your lips are honey, my love,
every syllable you speak a delicacy to savor."

"His eyes are like doves, soft and bright,
but deep-set, brimming with meaning, like wells of water."

"Love is invincible facing danger and death.
Passion laughs at the terrors of hell.
The fire of love stops at nothing—
it sweeps everything before it.
Flood waters can't drown love,
torrents of rain can't put it out.
Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—
it's not to be found in the marketplace."

12:26

I am a big sticky sweaty mess of wahoo cheer right now. I just got back from the gym and most likely by the time I finish typing this my legs will not allow me to stand up and walk to the shower.

I ran a 12:26 mile and then cycled [Is it biked or cycled?] 5.5 miles. Then get this, I got back on the treadmill of doom and conquered that thing again! 13:03 that time. I probably could have gone faster however; dazed by my adrenaline I mistakenly set the incline to 5.0 rather than my default 0.5 and I ran the whole first lap up a relatively steep hill.

So to those who subtly suggested that I might not actually go to the gym today...Eat my shorts. :)

Now the sweat is cooling off into just a nasty sticky film... I must find a shower and quickly.


...Oh and I started Katherines...pretty good so far.

All Creatures Great and Small

Mahalo,

I recently finished reading All Creature Great and Small by James Herriot. It took me almost a month to read, proving once again that I am possibly the slowest reader in the world. Dyslexia and laziness could share equally in the blame.

The book is about a country vet pre-WWII. It's very British, filled with meat pies and teas. Each chapter is a short story and there are almost 70 chapters. I think this contributed to the length of time it took to read. I would read an 8 page chapter and put the book down for the day. There was no compelling reason to continue reading, aside from the cute short stories. It's based on the life of the author and I think that added to its cuteness. [Sorry to continually use "cuteness" as a quality, I'm at a loss for other words.] Cows giving birth, sick horses, angry farmers, an excentric boss, and a little bit of a love story thrown in at the end. I would compare this book to Anne of Green Gables. I think it fits in that family of literature quite nicely.


Today I'm starting, An Abundance of Katherines. Okay. Yes. I did pick it for the name, but it looks like an interesting book. It's written by John Green and I'll tell you what its about when I'm finished. John Green is a nerd fighter. (link in the side bar -->)

As I write this I'm listening to CNN report on the crane accident in NYC. Didn't this just happen? I hope no one was hurt. I hope no one I know was hurt. [Is that selfish?] NYC is such a great place, I've only been twice but I can't wait to visit again.

Also I am terribly sore from yesterday. I reached up for my Special K with fruit and yogurt this morning and my side ached. I guess that good. It means I'm working something. Here's a question for anyone reading this, do I work through it or do I skip a day and wait til tomorrow? It's not unbearable, just a noticeable tenderness.

Today's to do list:

*Accounting homework (Test tomorrow)
*Laundry
*Gym?
*Read Katherines
*Continue listening to my Joyce Meyer's tape series titled "Be anxious for nothing" wherein she yells at you continually in a high pitched southern voice about how you're worrying too much. Usually she's right, but her tactics aren't great.
*Clean my bathroom which has become a disgusting mess littered with hair products I never ever use, trash can overflowing with Gatorade bottles, make-up, toothpaste stained sink, and laundry all over the floor.
*Try not to think about facebook.

Have a fantastic day!

Jacob and Rachel

Day 1 without facebook.

I just got back from the gym, where I cut my mile time by over a minute. I went from 14:30 to 13:13. I had horrible stomach pains right after, which I guess is good because it means that I'm really pushing myself. My brother ran track in high school and I remember him telling me that during a race he pushed himself so hard that he puked and then proceeded to run through it. I didn't puke. I just walked another lap and a half and went home.

I also spent part of the day listening to sermons/lectures on tape and researching the story of Jacob and Rachel. I've linked a good website in the sidebar, and while I don't agree with the author's interpretation of all of the events, he did make some excellent points. Here's a few of the lines that stood out to me:

"To profess to love someone we do not know intimately is merely to love our mental image of that person. And if he does not measure up to our mental image, then our so-called “love” turns to disillusionment and resentment, and sometimes to hatred."

"Infatuation is usually in a hurry because it is self-centered. It says, “I feel good when I am with you, so I want to hurry up and get you to the altar before I lose you and lose these good feelings.” Love says, “Your happiness is what I want most of all, and I am willing to wait, if need be, to be sure this is what is best for you.” And if it is real, it will stand the test of time. Jacob waited, and his romantic love at first sight grew to become a deep bond of spirit and a total commitment of soul."

The telling of the story is beatiful and contemporary. Like I said, link in the sidebar. -->

Good morning angels,

For those who are unaware, I am currently taking an accelerated financial accounting course online. It is the bane of my existence. [This is off topic but I wonder if anyone has ever used the word "bane" outside of the phrase "bane of my existence." If so, I've never read nor heard it.] The course is 7 weeks and I have about 3 weeks left. I will be so happy once it's over.

On a related note, my room has never been cleaner. I'm also reading more books and working out and finding a multitude of projects to occupy my time, rather than study for financial accounting.

I've been thinking about this for a while and in an effort to stay goal-oriented I've decided to give up facebook. I'm not sure for how long, a week maybe? We'll see.

It's come to my attention that I spend and absurd amount of time each day, checking to see who's online, who's written on my wall, and what new pictures my friends have posted. Instead I'm going to spend a few minutes each day posting here and then I'm going to get down to business. I don't think I've listed them before so here they are in no particular order, my short-term goals:

*Read more --Vague, I know, but I have an ever-growing reading list.
*Finish my current course with a B or better-- A boost to my GPA, which will hopefully help with scholarship funds.
*Lose weight and gain muscle and energy.
*Research universities with Arts Management/Arts Administration programs.
*Spend more time in prayer and meditation each day.
*Stop biting my nails.

So hopefully I won't suffer from facebook withdrawal. For those interested here's a list of long-term goals which I'm sure will be revamped several times in the future.

*Graduate college
*Move up north
*Study-abroad
*Become fluent in French
*Manage a theatre, or at least a box office
*Have another experience like summerstock
*Obtain a Bergamasco, possibly the coolest dogs in the world.
*Be able to provide substantial loan amounts to Kiva.org
*Get married...eventually.
*Take singing lessons
*Take dance lessons
*Go snowboarding
*Do some charitable work within the US
*Sponsor a Watoto
*Become a mom and name my children Natalie, Charlotte, Aidan, and/or Caleb.

...and because I can't think of a witty way to end this post...

Peace out, homeslices.

Soar Monkees

About six months ago I bought a stability ball for around $10 from walmart. I used it exactly once. The DVD I got with it was horrible. Since then I've been using it as a computer chair. I thought at the very least it could help with my posture.

Now that I'm on this exercise kick, I looked on youtube and found some workouts with the ball. Sparkpeople has a 15 minute workout that's really good for beginners. The first day I tried it, it was difficult but I could do it. The second day I was a little sore, but I could still do it. Today was the third day and I was so sore I had to skip out on some of it. There's one movement where you lay on your side with the ball between your legs and lift you hips up. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean. It's insanely difficult. Also push-ups on a ball are absurdly difficult.

I'm sure that going to the gym has aided in my incredible soreness. I'm trying to be able to run a mile on the treadmill without slowing down to a jog. Right now rotate; jog a lap, then run a lap. I've also been biking about 4 or 5 miles each day.


The worst part about all this is trying to stay hydrated. I always have a water bottle with me and I find that I have to pee a million times a day now.

But this post is not all about fitness.

It's come to my attention that some people reading this might not understand the title of the blog.

Let me take you back to middle school. Your sitting in homeroom when someone turns to you and says "Hey, someone wrote gullible on the ceiling." or "Hey, your shoes are untied." or a plethora of other "Hey's" Then you look up and they yell something truly inspired "Sike! Monkeys always look!"

So this blog is titled in response to the stupid comment, "Monkeys always look." All animals look. Also I'm pretty sure monkeys don't ALWAYS look. Why not, "Giraffes always eat!" or "Kangaroos always poop!" Either of those taunts would make about as much sense as "Monkeys always look!" Just imagine being in a public restroom, and hearing someone shout "HEY! Kangaroos always poop!"

Also its one word because I thought it would look cooler that way.

The link for the sparkpeople video is in the sidebar.

Keeping with the true spirit of middle school...

H.A.G.S.

I hesitate discussing weight, diet, or exercise in this forum. I fear some after school drama-seeking teen will stumble across this page and walk away with the idea that they need to lose half their body weight. I'd hate for my words to catapult someone, albeit a dumb someone, into an unhealthy lifestyle. That said, read on only if you don't fit the description above.

When I was 13 I could eat two family sized bags of salt and vinegar chips within a week. I drank soda and ate pizza and goldfish crackers and white bread sandwiches with miracle whip and coffee flavored ice cream. I still love all of those things but somewhere between 13 and 22 my metabolism caught up with me. In high school was 5'0 and I weighted about 120. I wasn't the three letter f-word but I wasn't skin and bones. I never got into any sports, I hate running and all sports involve running.

This week I started going to the gym. I'm logging my workouts on a facebook application. I bought a scale that shows body fat percentage and hydration levels. The best change I've made so far is giving up coke. Its hard to tell how much I used to drink but I'd say at least 4 to 6 cans worth a day. I hate going out to eat and having that soda glass continually refilled, until by the time you're finished with your meal you've easily consumed 6 glasses. Annoying, isn't it? It's been 25 days without soda so far. It wasn't that difficult and I really do feel better. I wont link it here but if you're interested, go and google the effects of coke on your body. They're about as bad as you would expect them to be.

Why am I posting this on here? I'm leaving all this on here so that I'll be made accountable for my exercise routine. Aside from the health benefits, I'm using this experience to teach myself discipline.

My goal is to lose between 6-10 pounds in five weeks and tone up my arms and abs.

Creative workouts and other suggestions would be appreciated.


DFTBA

hagiography

Most people call me Katherine, some also call me Kat. I got sick of people asking me for a nickname. Frequently I've encountered situations like this:

"What's your name?"
"Katherine."
"Okay and what do you go by?"
"What?"
"What do you prefer to be called?"
"Katherine."
"Do you have any nicknames?"
"No."
"What about Kathy? Katie? Kate? Kat?"
"Kat."
"Okay great. Everyone this is Kat."
"How do you spell that?"

That was probably the worst name I could have accepted because from that point on, upon being introduced as Kat, witty people everywhere would meow at me and smile like some creepy Saturday Night Live character. What was his name? Oh yeah, the ladies man. Yuck.

My life is pretty good. I've had many exciting adventures. Middle school, high school, summer stock, traveling with the circus, now I'm adding college to the list. I know what you're thinking, you're thinking "KatherineKatieKatKathyKate, what about elementary school?" Well thank you for asking but those days were not quite as adventurous. Rather dull, actually.

I live in the sunny state of Florida and sometimes I like it and sometimes I hate it. I can't honestly say that I've ever loved it. The perks of course are the weather and the cheap cost of school. There are many downsides [what's a good word for the opposite of perks?] not the least of which include the tourists, the hot summers, the humidity, the traffic no matter what time of day it is, the lack of exciting places to go and things to do, and the lines at superwalmart even at 3 in the morning.

That's me to this point. There's a slice of back story pie and if you'd like seconds read on. I'll be generous with the cool whip.