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What a day

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by admin in deep thoughts | exercise | fitness | food | Glasgow | health | Scotland | shopping | spinning | stress | UK | walk | workout - (3 Comments)

I am sure all of you had normal mornings. I am sure none of you had to jump out a WINDOW to get out of your living accommodation. I did. See, my key doesn’t work well and I have a hard time unlocking it from the inside. I tried and kicked at it and swore for a good 20 minutes before I gave up, climbed up on to the window sill, and jumped. I then went in the front of the building and unlocked the door easily from the outside. Seriously, this is my life.

When I got to the office, I found it open and some random guy at my computer. He didn’t know it was my desk- granted I haven’t really personalized it….

I then proceeded to leave my umbrella at the coffee shop (I later retrieved it). And then I managed to snap off the wrappy bit of the umbrella and now it is closed by a hair elastic.

My gym workout was less than stellar. I didn’t even want to BE there, but I did 10 on the spin bike (I need a spin cushion seat!) and 10 on the elliptical, and then a bit of weights, and then I walked home via Tesco- all in all the workout was 1.5 hours and burned 560 calories. I counted the walk home as part of it, it being partially uphill and me carrying a ton of crap in my backpack.

Now, today being pancake Tuesday I decided to make pancakes. I should have realized that given the fact I can’t cook at all (other than pasta and simple things) that even a pre-made pancake mix would be a disaster. Which it was. The first one had powder in it, and the second was burned and runny. Steph, come back! I then tried to make tea (with tea leaves) and managed to mess that up as well. So I am very glad I had a backup dinner plan (pasta, faux mince and roasted veggies) which is almost done. (Jen, help! I need a big canister of parmesan, the ones here are so tiny!!!)

The rest of the night’s plan is to watch last night’s House, and perhaps more Sherlock. (Of course I will watch more Sherlock, I can’t help myself! I am such a Cumberbitch!) I also want to get through some more of the Cyber bullying book I am reading that is due in a few days.

Tomorrow I need to run errands, get my ashes, and read more.

I also need to figure out what I am giving up for Lent. I was thinking about shopping but I mean, really. Then I thought about giving up swearing, and I was like yeah, that isn’t frigging happening. Last year I gave up diet Coke. I should give up eating brownies at the library. Hrm.

If so inclined, what are you giving up for Lent?

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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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Catch up

January 18th, 2012 | Posted by cindy in Glasgow | grad school | health | UK - (0 Comments)

I’ve neglected my poor blog for a variety of reasons. 1. I have had limited internet. 2. I’ve been sooo sick. I thought it was nothing, that I was just being all dizzy and feeling crappy for no reason, but then I realized that duh, my ear is killing and is blocked, no wonder I have no equilibrium and feel like the room is spinning. I ended up figuring this out on a Friday, after the GP was closed. So Saturday am I called NHS 24 and I was told to go to Western General emergency GP clinic and there I was evaluated and assessed and told I had an ear infection {really, I had no idea.}. Unfortunately, I have really not felt much better and I have felt like crap for a week now. I do feel a little better, but my right ear is still blocked and I have trouble hearing out of it and my general energy and enthusiasm levels are less than stellar.

Then, there was yesterday’s freak out about my student loan deposit and subsequent nervous breakdown. In the end, it was fine and all has been sorted and whatnot.

The past 2 days I have been able to get out and run errands and things that I’ve needed to do which is good. Tomorrow I am meeting with my advisor to start discussing what it is I am actually doing.

So that’s about it.

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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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Christmas 2011

December 26th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in anxiety | deep thoughts | grief - (0 Comments)

Today wasn’t like any ordinary Christmas for many reasons. Last year I was in Scotland. This year I am home. Last Christmas my mum was here. This year she’s not. I’ve had a really hard time keeping it together this week. And I don’t really want to talk about it right now b/c I will start crying again and I’ve only just stopped.

The main reason this Christmas was not ordinary is that both my nieces came down with the stomach bug overnight. {If you know me, you know that I am a ridiculous emetophobe and situations like this send my anxiety into overdrive. I will spend the next week panicking about getting sick and using lysol and hand sanitizer like it is going out of style. I know there is nothing I can do about it, and that just makes the panic worse.}

Luckily the kids were ok enough to wake me and open presents. They were happy and excited and that was good, but it just wasn’t the same.

I took a nap and then I watched Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, and AbFab. I started reading a new book. I started packing my new bag. I just couldn’t focus on any one thing.

I’m going to watch some Ashes to Ashes for a bit and go to sleep. I need to do the home for the holidays virtual 10K if I wake up well tomorrow before I go to work.

I hope everyone out there who celebrated Christmas had a lovely one, filled with love and happiness. If you don’t, I hope you had a great Sunday. :)

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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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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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Mid week catch-up

December 9th, 2011 | Posted by cindy in boring cindy is boring | life | running - (2 Comments)

I’ve been meaning to blog every evening and things keep happening where I just don’t get the chance.

Sunday:
I am pretty sure I went for a run. What else I did, I couldn’t tell you.

Monday:
I worked for the first time. I worked in men’s furnishings{not the department I was hired to work in LOL} and amused myself for part of the day by picking out tie and shirt combos for David Tennant. I was told it was supposed to be a slow day. Yeah. Not so much. It was busy. So busy I made my selling goal before lunch. By the end of the day I wanted to cry b/c my feet were killing.

Tuesday:
I am pretty sure Tuesday was the laundromat debacle. The entire thing was a huge fuckup, and let’s just leave it at that. I know I ran today. It was mild. It was humid. It was a good run.

Wednesday: I went into Boston to do the bio metrics for my student visa. It was raining. Ick.

Today: I took my sister to her LASIK surgery. I had a gingerbread latte. It was nice.

Not a very exciting week, I know. Tomorrow I have a run planned. I also want to pick up my check and go to the grocery store and get groceries, as well as lunch for my Saturday work shift.

*Note I realize now that it is Thursday not Wednesday, which would be mid week.*

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