Sunny Sunday

Today was a good day. Shain and Bear went squirrel hunting this morning and let me sleep in which was so nice after a 6 day work-week. We bought a ton of pellets to start stocking up since the weather is starting to cool. Stopped by my parent's house to catch up for a bit then back to Nunda. Shain and I cleaned and did laundry all afternoon and then had dinner. I sewed for a while and then we watched movie on the new couch. He is sound asleep now and I'm trying to wind down. At least Mondays are relatively easy days at work. And I'm only on the schedule for Staples one day again this week. Two jobs is a challenge but I'm trying to tough it out.

Yearly update:

I guess I'm just a once a year blogger :) I have changed jobs again. I'm working as a receptionist at a local Dr.'s office. I'm still living with Shain and driving the Jeep. Bear is about 70 lbs now! Things are going pretty well. I've had a lot of time to craft this summer; sewing, quilting, knitting, tie dying, painting. It's been wonderful :)

Wow

My last post was in March 2010. Whata crazy year since then though. Where even to begin? Let's see. Trip to Florida in April 2010 was fun; got to spend a lot of QT with my sissy-la-la. Summer went by fast. Worked a lot of hours at pizza corner and partied all summer long. Had a great time. Went cliff jumping. Got matching dragonfly tattoos with my mom. Had one of the best birthdays ever in August when I turned 22. Also in August I started dating Shain. A guy I knew from around town who used to come get pizza from me once in a while. We went on our first date to the drive-in in Perry and have been together ever since. He's definitely that ying to my yang. For Labor day we went up to his lake house near Govenuer, NY. In October I was hired by Salliemae and left my job at Pizza Corner which as since shut down. I bought a new car a few weeks ago. Bye bye convertible, hello Jeep Liberty. The jeep's a lot handier especially when you haves new dog! I got a puppy in March when he was just 5 weeks old. My baby is a black lab named Bear and he is spoiled rotten. Speaking of babies, Riley Owen Swink was born July 14, 2010 in wonderful health and is a beautiful baby, growing so quickly! His mommy and daddy are getting married in just a few short weeks on June 11, 2011. His aunt Francesca will be a bridesmaid. I'm still living in Nunda, at Shain's house now. Just moved in a few weeks ago. That's the short version I guess. Right now just getting psyched for the wedding and raising my puppy while Shain spends the summer working on a union job in Albany.

Training

So pleased that the weather is nice and that I have gotten back into running. I really missed it. It just makes me feel great. Not only the physical activity but the feeling of freedom and of reflection. Ran 3.7 miles yesterday and 2 today and I'm feeling a bit sore but nothing a can't handle. I've traced out 5 and a 6 mile runs to work up to now that I know I can do almost 4. Running farther also helps you run faster, so I've also considered running in some 5K events this spring with my mom. I won't run races to win, but they are fun.

Other than that just doing my usual working and everything. Didn't do anything for St. Patrick's Day but did get a total drunk dial from my brother around dinner time. He was definitely celebrating :-) He does bartend at an Irish pub though, so basically I'm proud of his work.

Just Be

Sorry posting has been so sporadic lately. I am too poor to have internet access in my apartment. Nothing really exciting is going on. Working as usual. Got a new tattoo on the back of my neck, right underneath my hairline. It's a star, to remind me to shine no matter what :) Also it looks frickin B.A. My mom bought me some new tires for my car and my stepdad bought me new windshield wipers so I am totally hooked up, lol. Just saw the new Alice in Wonderland movie last night at the imax. It was pretty cool. I adore Johnny Depp no matter how cracked out his characters are. Tomorrow is my only day off this week and I have some great plans. I have a brunch date with the lovely Naomi to catch up seeings how we haven't seen each other in months! Then I'll have some lovely mix of laundry, running and cleaning. Then I get to babysit some of my favorite kids in the whole wide world which is wonderful because it's actually fun and I get money :)

Speaking of running, I've been getting back on track like I used to be in the fall. Particularly since mommy dearest bought me a new pair of running sneakers too. Love her. Ran 2.5 miles today. I forgot how much I enjoyed just going outside and doing it. It's nice to have that time to yourself not necessarily to think but rather to just be. It feels great.

Also, Margaret and I are going to Florida in about 3 weeks and I am so excited for a vacation. I plan on dividing my time between running, sunning, reading and enjoyed some dacquiris :) Kidding. I'm not going to get hammered. I am just going to enjoy relaxing and really not doing much of anything. I am especially going to enjoy the lack of pizza!

Been really homesick for Russia lately. Probably because I've been working on my scrapbook. Lena, Masha, Misha, Sergei...I miss you!

Drama

Things have been going pretty good lately. Chris and I ended up splitting up but it was the right thing to do. I've just been working like 40-45 hour weeks and doing my thing lately. Paying my bills and trying to keep my nose down the best that I can. I'm really missing all my friends lately. And I can't wait for warm weather. Plus my trip to Florida! Some exciting things though! Jacque and Casey found out today that their baby is a boy! Riley Owen is the name that they have picked out and I can't wait for him to get here! Also, I think Special K is finally going to get back into tattooing so I can get some more ink!

On a side note: Life Lesson #173: Never let a drunk, straight boy dye your hair. Particularly if you are drunk yourself. And most particularly is the dye is fire engine red. Beer pong/hair dye parties are a bad idea :)

Life Is A Highway...

...and I'm gonna ride it...all night long. Sorry for how completely depressing my last post was. I was really not in a good place. Things are feeling a little better now. That lyric just popped into my head because I have to drive to Rochester tonight to pick Chris up at the airport and I'm worried that I will have to drive in the snow and be on the highway and all that. But then it kind of got me thinking, you know. I like the metaphor of life as a road. Sometimes its bumpy, sometimes you run out of gas, get a flat tire, car breaks down. It could be snowing or raining or sunny. But you just have to keep moving forward until you get where you're trying to go I guess. I just like it.

How Many Times Can I Break Til I Shatter?

That's pretty much what my life feels like right now. I'm broke. My car is broken. My boyfriend won't speak to me. I'm on the verge of tears all the time. And then I log onto facebook for the first time in weeks and have to read about fires, shootings, friends dying. How much can we take? Humans are so physically and emotionally fragile and it seems like so many people all over the world are being constantly pushed to the limits of what they can endure. It's heartbreaking.


Upon reflection I guess things aren't really as bad as they feel. The snow and cold just makes me so depressed and then things that are bad seem so awful. I do work full time, support myself in my own apartment, will be able to get my car fixed and am trying to show the boyfriend that I care about him and that he doesn't need to push me away. As far as the fires and shootings go, I have to accept things that I can't change.


One exciting piece of news. I am going to Florida for a week in April. I just have to pay $100 for my plane ticket and for my own food/drinks. My aunt is paying for the hotel and the rest of the flight. And while she and my sister are waiting in lines at disney world and all that jazz, this girl will be laying in the sun, drinking, and enjoying a whole week straight of not having to make pizza :)

Car Air Fresheners and Mocassins

Those are two things that I like. Things have been really good and pretty bad lately. I'm getting by.

Francesca = Car Owner

Woohoo! Bought my first car today and it's awesome! Did all the DMV business and all that jazz and have been enjoying how awesome it feels to have my own set of wheels. It was raining all day today so I didn't have a chance to take pictures or vacuum out the interior and clean like I want to but oh well. Also didn't have a chance to pop that top down yet but you know I will on the next sunny day, even if it is freezing out! Pictures soon I promise.

Spent the day doing the car stuff and then babysitting all evening. It was really nice to just relax for a good part of the day. On rainy days I'm all about the sweat pants and book and that's what I did for the 2 hours I was babysitting after the kids went to bed. I love babysitting for the family that I do; the kids are great. I fed them fish sticks and broccoli, we watched Mamma Mia, and then they all got ready for bed like little lambs. The baby didn't go right to sleep tonight, but I got him to sleep eventually. Then I chilled out on the couch and read, and was paid to do it, it's awesome.

Anyways, 9 hours of real work tomorrow, so I really need to get some sleep. I'm just so excited these past few days that sleep has been really hard. Hopefully a long, hard day's work of pizza slinging will tire me out so I can go to bed tomorrow night at a more reasonable time.

Also, first long(ish) excursion in my new car on Tuesday when I head up to Roch to go dress shopping (with Tiffany!)...yay! And I'm going to try to sell some clothes that are too big for me to Plato's Closet so I have money to buy a dress...yay :)

Excited!

I'm so excited! Tomorrow I am going to buy my first car! It's going to empty my bank account but this is what I've been working 35 hours a week burnin myself on hot pizza pans for! I will definitly post pictures of my baby soon. I'm just so excited!

Another exciting thing is that I was invited to go to a wedding for a friend of a friend next Friday and I'm excited because I love weddings! They are so beautiful and joyous. I am actually going to be the date of my good friend's fiance's brother. He is in the wedding party as a groomsman and he didn't have a date and my friend, Tiffany, the one I went to see Toby Keith with, asked me if I would go as his date so we can party at the reception :-) No, I really do love weddings though, so I am excited. It does mean that I have to go dress shopping in the next few days because I have nothing to wear to a wedding. However, who doesn't like to go shopping when they've recently lost almost 25 pounds?!

Yay life :)

Desiderata

Maybe you have already heard of this wonderful piece of prose, but if you haven't here it is. Desiderata is Latin for 'desired things' and it is also the title of a prose poem attributed to Max Ehrmann. It is really wonderful so please take the time to read it.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

SO, I think I'm going to buy a car tomorrow...eeek! It's a used car, a '98 Seabring convertible. It's silver, in pretty good condition, got a lot of miles on it though. Anyways, it will legit empty my bank account to buy a car (and I think I'm getting it for about $2800) and I'm like "how am I going to pay for insurance when my bank account = $0?" It will be really nice to have my own car though, especially since I've been working SO much. 3 people quit where I work so my hours got majorly bumped up. This week I worked Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and tomorrow (Sun) and it comes out to about 39 hours depending on how long I'm there tomorrow. So having my own car will make my life a lot easier as far as work goes. Plus I'll be able to slightly increase the frequency and duration of my trips to Brockport and LeRoy 'cause I won't be using a borrowed car (if I ever get more than a day off- and I only get Tuesdays off cause I have class and have to do my hw before that, but if I ever get a Sat off I'm driving to Brockport after work Friday night and not coming home til I have to go back to work again...lol). Although the cost of gas (and to some degree the amount of miles on the car) are prohibitive :(

Anyways, long run tomorrow and work so I gotta get to bed. Maybe I'll post pictures of the car if I buy it.

PS...I've lost about 24 pounds altogether so far...go me! :) Here's to the next 24!

Thank You Heather

The title is in response to the very sweet and lovely comment that Heather left on my last post. Love you dear!

Ok, so I'm kind of getting into this whole running thing. I ran/walked about 4.5 miles today. I think the actually running was somewhere between 2 and 2.5 miles, so I'm pretty proud of myself. And I have been doing pretty well eating healthy even though I do work at a pizza place and it is very tempting to grab some food while I'm there. Other than that I'm finding it very easy to eat healthy. Speaking of work, my boss just had 2 people quit on her so she is bumping up my hours a bit. I'll be getting about 33 a week and I'm finally getting my own key so I can open and close by myself...exciting.

My accounting class is going pretty well. I still understand everything we are talking about so I feel like that's a good sign.

Not really anything interesting going on, my life is pretty plain right now but I'm doing ok :)

Oh, and I was just reading a post from the other day and I guess I never did update you on how I did on that accounting test but I will now. I got a 100 on it!!! Yay me!

Some Good Stuff

Some good things to keep me motivated:

Got hit on at the bar on Friday. Even had guys buy me drinks! It's a motivation to keep running because I am finally getting pretty!

Also made like $120 babysitting over 2 days which is really nice.

Also my parents saw a cool car that they want me to look into.

Trying to keep looking forward.

All I Can Say is that My Life is Pretty Plain

Can't believe that it's Friday already. It seems like time is going by really fast. Working a lot. Trying to go jogging when I can. That's about it.

How is Tomorrow Monday Already?

I feel like the weekend went by SO fast and I barely did anything! I guess it's because I am so busy now. Who knew that a part time job at a pizza place would take over my life. I worked Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - a total of 27 hours in 3 days. I have to work tomorrow too (Monday). So my "part time" job is pretty darn close to full time (which is 40 hours a week btw). Add in my class on Tuesday nights and I'm a busy girl :-) But the up side is that I should be able to save up some money to buy a car, which will hopefully allow me to move out of my parents house because I will hopefully be able to find a serious job. It is actually easier to save money when I'm not at Brockport and my friends aren't around in Dansville because I go out a lot less and spend less money. So I'm kind of bored, but it's good.

Other than that I am still jogging and trying to eat healthy. It's really hard to go jogging on the days I work open to close (9:30-9:30 and get home at 10) but oh well. I figure making all that pizza burns enough calories on those days. Seriously, my biceps were really sore after work on Friday, I have no idea why. I didn't think anything I was lifting was too heavy, but who knows? I'll have mad guns soon though, haha.

Speaking of Brockport, I talked to a lot of my Brockport besties this weekend and I miss them all so much! Part of me really wished I was there, but it's nice to know I'm missed and remembered and to get lots of nice phone calls on the weekend to get caught up :-) Love you guys!

And speaking of besties, I talked to my Russian bestie Masha today on Skype. I miss her something terrible, but it is always so nice to hear her voice. She is thinking about visiting America next summer which would be awesome. She is also, in cahoots with my Russian mama and Russian boy, trying to get me to visit Russia for New Year's. I want to SO badly. I mean, I really don't have the money for it, but I want to so badly. I miss the city, I miss all my people there, I miss the food. I'm homesick for Russia. Plus, I wouldn't really have to pay for a hotel or food because I've been offered places to stay, so...I can afford it, can't I? It's just like $1000. Just. Lol. We'll see.

"Sweating Like A Pig Actually, and Yourself?"

Props to anyone who knows where that quote is from, first of all. An excellent film.

Some updates I guess. Not too much new is good old Dansville, NY, but a few cool things.

Labor day weekend in the New York State Festival of Balloons and it takes place in Dansville. Tons of hot air balloonists and aficionados travel to this small town to celebrate. This year, the wind was blowing in the right direction during one of the launches and about dinner time Sunday night about 50-60 hot air balloons flew directly over/through my backyard. I've seen balloons from my backyard before but these were so close. It was cool.

Second, I have my second accounting class tonight and I have a test, lame. I'll let you know how it goes. I bought the text book the other day and it was SO expensive. I hate buying books.

Third, just got back from running (explains the blog title). I'm jogging somewhere around 1.5-1.6 miles. It's going ok. My legs are KILLING today. Straight through from the ankle to the ass is pretty sore. But it feels good to do something healthy so I am going to stick with it as best as I can.

Fourth, I had a little interview at a pizza place where I put in an application today...and they gave me a job! It's not my dream job (lol) but it's money coming in and I can't complain about that. The woman who runs it and hired me seems really nice and she gave me about 20 hours over the next 3 days which is good. I'll be making some money and getting out of the house/keeping busy. Yay.

So that's really all that's new I think. Gotta shower, finish hw/study, and get to class :-)

Trace Atkins+Toby Keith= AWESOME

The concert last night was SO much fun, I can't even describe it. Tiffany and I had the best time. We were adorable country girls in our boots and we rocked it. We got there a little early and walked around to talk to people and see everyone playing beer pong and polish horseshoes all over the place. I actually ran into some people from Brockport and from Dansville, so that was cool. It was great to see everyone out in their plaid, and denim, and pick-ups. I loved it.

The concert itself was great. Trace and Toby serenaded us and Tiff and I danced like it was going out of style. My legs were actually sore later. Sometimes I like dancing to country music better than to the pop/rap stuff that gets played at parties and some night clubs. Plus country boys are better dancers I think. There is less hip grabbing/ass grinding and more grab your hand/twirl you around/sing to you. It's great.

It was a great time :-)

Toby Keith

Ok, I feel like I've filled out like 100 job applications in the last week. Someone please call me back and say you'd like me to make pizzas for you or something! I getting to the begging soon...

In better news, I'm working on the whole jogging thing. It's going ok. I live on a BIG hill so that makes it kind of hard but then I also don't feel bad when it gets so steep that I walk instead of jog...lol ;-)

Also, I got my grades in from my summer program so I'm like almost completely officially done with Brockport...just waiting on my beautiful diploma.

Also, I skpyed with my Russian momma for the first time today and it was wonderful! I've skyped with a few of my Russians but I couldn't with Lena because she was on holday but she's finally home and it was so wonderful to hear her voice and talk with her. The only bad part was that it made me really homesick for Russia. I really want to go visit for New Year's but it's so expensive to fly there to only stay a week or so. I'm super torn but I want to SO badly. Maybe if I ever find a job and can start making/saving up some money!

ALSO! I'm going to see TOBY KEITH tomorrow! Please be jealous :-) It was kind of last minute but I'm getting plently excited. My friend Tiffany and I are going and we are going to have such a good time. Pictures later! SO EXCITED :D