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Too quiet

February 20th, 2012 | Posted by admin in exercise | fitness | Glasgow | grad school | gym | health | life | running | Scotland | stress | UK | workout - (0 Comments)

It’s too quiet here. Steph has gone back to the US for 2 weeks (long story, don’t ask) and it is very, very quiet here. As much as we’ve already been getting on each other’s nerves (stress- again, don’t ask) I miss her. It’s too quiet here.

She had to leave early, and I wasn’t able to fall asleep early, and then when she left I was awake for a few hours and then finally fell back to sleep and woke up at noon. Which wasn’t on my plan of attack for the day. I wanted to be in the office by 11ish. Yeah. Didn’t happen.

I ended up going to the library since I had to return something and then after spending a few hours there, I went to the gym. I’m running a 10K in May and since the weather here isn’t quite conducive to running outside right now, the Uni gym is the best bet. It isn’t great; It’s so crowded and I am by far the largest person there and all the super skinny undergrads were looking at me like I was a bit odd.

Once that was said and done, I had to walk home, which made me unhappy since it was raining and too windy to put up my umbrella. I’ve had dinner, done a load of laundry, and am now watching Sherlock (again).

I just hope I get an actual decent night’s sleep and can actually get some work accomplished tomorrow.

Glasgow update

February 8th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in Glasgow | life | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Hello! It’s been a while since I have had a chance to update, basically b/c I don’t have internet in the flat as of yet (and not until the 28th! Grrrr! I must contact them and see if they can move it up!). So, we have moved and I’ve been organizing/cleaning/putting things away and getting things needed. Tomorrow we get the stuff out of storage and I can finally hang up all my clothes as all the hangers are in storage.

Here are some pictures of the flat!

 

 

I do have some interesting posts planned to go up soon on bullying and the religious right, the biggest loser and extreme exercise, and my own struggles in losing weight so please stay tuned.

How long have you ever gone without internet in the home? Did it make you nuts?

Update on all the things

January 25th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in exercise | Glasgow | grad school | health | life | running | Scotland | shopping | UK | update - (1 Comments)

Flat: We have put the deposit down on the flat, and hopefully should be moving 1st February if not sooner, which is what I wish. My back is not a big fan of the crappy mattress at the hostel.

Illness: I guess I am back to about 95%. My throat hurts sometimes when I wake up but I think that has to do with the ridic heat/dryness at said hostel.

Working out: Well, suffice to say I haven’t done anything other than walking about since the 10K. Now that I don’t feel like utter crap, I plan to either start running again (weather permitting) or hitting the gym. While I am still not within walking distance of uni, I have a 5 day pass to a gym close to the hostel I will be using ASAP.

Uni: I met with my professor. I have to rework my proposal and whatnot and we are meeting again next week. Unfortunately I cannot locate my proposal AT ALL. I don’t even have a hard copy; I looked through all the paperwork I had here. Unless it is hidden away somewhere and I have no idea where that would be, I am kind of screwed. I can rewrite it, but I preferred not to reinvent the wheel and just wanted to edit the old one. So I have started over. I have 71 words written. Great start, right?

Still looking into getting a new computer. My old Dell laptop is slow and the cable doesn’t stay plugged in. I will get one with my office, but it won’t be “mine,” nor will it be a laptop. Also I don’t know when space will be allocated for me.

Fandom: Still a Cumberbitch. I can’t help it. I clearly need help, stat.

And I am off to get some errands done.

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Do you ever feel the way I do?

January 23rd, 2012 | Posted by cindy in deep thoughts | depression | life - (0 Comments)

I was actually almost in a good mood yesterday. I posted what I thought was a fascinating post {ok not fascinating per say, but funny ha ha} but clearly the joke is on me. And then I went to the store and found that no jackets fit me at all. Nope. None. Zilch. Zero. Way to reduce my already fragile self-esteem to naught. I’m so glad I spent that what 5-6 weeks running and trying hard- just proving the fact that I’m utterly useless at changing how I look.

And now this.

2 page views, which were probably me checking to make sure the pictures had aligned right.

Way to make a girl feel special.

I know it comes across as whiny and pedantic to bitch and complain about readership or lack thereof. But seriously? What is the point of this? What is the point of me? Why do I continue to keep this site, if it is just for me to espouse what I think is interesting or important, especially if I feel like I am just talking to myself?

I know I don’t really have a blog genre; I blog about many different things. Perhaps I just thought I was more interesting than I really am. Perhaps the site stats are bust and really, lots and lots of people are reading these words and the comments are just lost in the void. But I think not.

It’s something to think about. Whether I want to stay and continue to elucidate about all things Cindy, or if I just want to consider throwing in the towel, that resurrecting neophytegirl was a failed experiment. Or maybe I just think I am far more funny and interesting than I really am and that no one wants to read about my fandom likes or why I’m sad or why I can’t get over xyz.

I just don’t know.

Busy day

January 19th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in Glasgow | life | Scotland | UK - (0 Comments)

Today was busy, for me at least recently. Despite still feeling like crap and pouring rain and sleet, I knew we had to go out for a number of reasons. Coffee, getting to uni and getting Steph a letter proving she completed her M.Litt, meeting with my advisor, picking up dinner food. So all of that was done, along with trying to get the flat reserved, which won’t be 100% resolved until tomorrow.

Since I’ve been back in the UK, I’ve been using my UK debit card. Well, the bank noticed this and put a hold on my account, so that when we tried to reserve the flat, it kept getting declined despite the fact I had 3x the amount available in my account. I got it resolved on the bank side, but it still wouldn’t go through. So tomorrow we have to go and give it to them in cash.

The meeting with my advisor was fine. I get a {shared} office where I can work in the education building! That’s pretty exciting. I have work I have to do now, so I will be trying to get to campus a few times next week.

Hopefully the flat thing works out and then we can start to plan the move. I cannot wait to get out of the hostel. The bed is doing my back in, and they don’t get Sky, so I can’t watch Mad Dogs. Clearly this is a HUGE issue. I need my Simm and Glenister fix!

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In Glasgow!

January 12th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in exercise | Glasgow | grad school | life | money woes | running | Scotland | travel | UK | winter - (0 Comments)

I’m in Glasgow! Horray!

Ok I have been here for a week, and I have been pretty busy looking for flats, trying to get things for school set up, going to Boots and Tesco, and having some sort of weird vertigo thing for the past 2 days, which hasn’t helped matters. It has been rather nice; sunny and cold which works fine for me. I need to get a picture of the sunrise or sunset over the River Clyde. Being on the 8th floor gives us great views, but the windows are dirty which is why I haven’t taken any as of yet. I’ve done a fair amount of walking, but I haven’t run since the 10K. Eep! I do have a pass for 5 free days at LA Fitness in Glasgow, so as soon as this dizziness thing sorts it self out, I can get my running on! {Or at the very least run along the river while it’s nice and sunny!}

So far I am waiting on my loans, so we can get a flat, and I can get some more clothing! I didn’t bring a lot of my stuff and I would like to get some basics of long sleeved tops and a pair of jeans and some wellies before I get too caught up in school.

I’ve been reading a lot as well, as I am not sure how much time I will have for it. If anyone has any recommendations about schooling and education in the UK, I would love to read them. Most of my knowledge is fiction based from Waterloo Road and an old copy of Scottish Education I had rattling around the old flat. I’d like something a bit more contemporary and not too dry. {I’m not asking much!}

I hope everyone is having a great week!

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Busy, busy

December 19th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in life | retail woes - (0 Comments)

I haven’t posted in a while because I’ve been busy. I’ve worked 5 straight days and I am tired and my feet are killing me. In general it has been ok, people have been nice.

But today…. was another story. As a seasonal hire I may not know how to do everything. But I am smart and have retail experience and generally know what I am supposed to be doing. Today I worked in a department that is not my usual one. I had picked up the extra shift as I needed the extra money. When I got there I do not think ANYONE had been in the dept. at all during the day. It was a mess. I spent the first 2 hours pretty much ringing orders like crazy and had made my sales goal after I had been there an hour.

So there I am minding my own business and doing my job when an associate who usually works in said department came in. She pretty much reamed me out telling me that the fitting room as a mess and I should have been cleaning it, etc. First of all, I didn’t know that. I was COVERING in there b/c there was NO ONE working in there. I was busy ringing the entire time, and then tried to tidy a bit. Seasonal associates get rudimentary training, mostly register based. So I had NO idea I was supposed to be doing that. So I kind of went off about it b/c I didn’t deserve to be treated that way, and I have worked in other departments and have never had anything happen and no one be anything but nice to me. Another girl who was in the area told me that the rude woman was talking about me when I was on a bathroom break.

You know seriously? It’s Christmastime. There is no reason to be rude. All you had to do was tell me in a NICE way that that was a responsibility that I needed to catch up on. Also, it is your choice to be working there and if you aren’t happy with yourself, there is no need to take it out on me. I’ve worked my ass off so I can get a good education and continue to further it. There is no reason to treat me like I’m an idiot.

On a good note, 2 people today told me they thought I was in my 20′s. :)

Ok, now that I’ve babbled on, I am going to go find some dinner, and then settle in for relaxing, reading, and watching the Homeland finale.

OH I forgot my super good news. I got my visa back super quick and I am flying out on January 4th!

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Christmas wishlist

December 13th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in David Tennant | deep thoughts | Doctor Who | exercise | fitness | Glasgow | goals | grad school | health | life | motivation | nsv | Scotland | shopping | workout - (1 Comments)

Wow 2 posts in one day? Who am I?

In my new {almost} running shoes I banged out nearly a 6k in under an hour. AND despite not thinking I would have a new PR, I DO! Thanks to my clever oldest niece who had showed me how to take screencaps on my iphone you can see it. Go me!

The sky was very, very blue today. It was such a great day out for a run!

Now, to the actual point of this post. This Christmas isn’t going to be great. In fact, in some ways it’s going to suck, and there isn’t anything I can do about it. I miss my mum, end of. So I decided to try to make myself feel better by coming up with the most crazy Christmas wishlist, a top ten you may say. Please do not think that I actually believe I will get any of these things. Especially #1. I wish!

10. All this retail work has made my nails a mess. I’d love a shellac manicure and a pedicure {I don’t even need toe polish I would just kill for the foot rub!} to start off the New Year right!

9. I could sure use this for my iphone.

8. Since I am being totally frivolous here, I can see myself in Buchanan Square with this bag.

7. While I am waiting for the coffee {see below} I should stretch.

6. I will need plenty of coffee to keep me going, so those Starbucks gift cards are always welcome. :)

5.Since I am going to be working hard on my thesis for my PhD, a new computer would be a huge asset! In my dreams, I know! I can be reasonable, even if it is still a stretch.

4. I guess new super cool running shoes would be great to get as well! The New Balance 993′s would be perfect. Grey/pink is fine. Size 7. :)

3. Now that I am running I really need a Road Id. I’d like the wrist id slim, in black. But I think I need to wait until I move until I get it.

2. While I’d love to have this at my door as well I will probably have to settle for this.

Or this, even.

1. What I would really love most of all would be to open the door on Christmas and have this waiting for me.

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Catch up update

December 13th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in fitness | life | running - (0 Comments)

I always start my blog posts when I am running and can think clearly. Then by the time I get home, I’m tired and sweaty and get involved in doing other things. So I am hoping I can remember some of these random things that have been in my head.

Saturday I worked all day. I must have zipped a million North Face jackets. I was thrilled when the day was over b/c my feet were killing.

Sunday I went for a run and read. Not very exciting I know.

Monday I went for a run{ish} and read and then I met up with my former roommate in our old neighborhood for a few hours. She showed me her new place and it is just how I want my new flat to be in Glasgow. Now if only I can turn that in to a reality!

Today I need to go run again and maybe get some laundry done. I work Wed-Saturday. However right now I just want to go back to sleep. I’m hoping to get motivated soon.

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TGIF

December 9th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in couch to 5k | exercise | life | running | weigh ins | weight | weight loss | workout - (1 Comments)

TGIF! Not that it really has any relevance to me, as I have to work tomorrow. But I know it does matter and is relevant to most other people I know.

Today was a good day. I managed a great run with a new 3 mile PR of 45:45!

Full workout time:

I was really surprised I did it, as my foot has been hurting. I was glad to get outside even though it was cold, and to wear my new running tights! They were so comfy and amazing. I may have to get another pair!

Anyways, my foot. It’s hurting on the top across right where my toes meet my foot. I have no idea what this is, and I am sure I should see a doctor, but I am giving it another day or so as I will have to go to the ER as there is no way I am spending $25 to go into the city to see my primary only to have her send me off for an xray when I can just do that at the ER. If there was a walk in care clinic around, I would go to that, but unfortunately no.

I also am still not seeing any results on the scale. I am running longer and faster, which is great, but for all this calorie burning I would like to see something change! I know it is a number on the scale and it shouldn’t define me, but it’s really hard not to. I suppose I should do measurements again; I have to find a measuring tape.

I have to work tomorrow, as I said. It is going to be another long day, but then I am off until Wednesday unless they ask me to come in on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.

Have a great weekend!

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