Reviewing my goals

It's funny, I find myself uysing this as a combination for setting goals, a bit of venting and rambling, but a lot of sorting things out in my mind. Which is good, makes it very different from my other one, which is largely a 'what i've been up to' sort of thing.

1. Stretching. I've been really successful on this one. Have my outlook alarm set in my diary for twice a day during the week, and 5 minute simple routine I do. Already noticing a difference. Plus steching at gym. I'd like to work it into my evening/morning routine as well.

2. Physio. Not yet. I haven't actually been having any knee problems yet, and the personal traininer i've ust seen has given me a few stretches to address the tightness in my back/slouching, so we'll go with that for now and see how it develops

3. Gym. I joined 2 weeks ago, and I've been going 4-5 times a week. Plus there's a lovely one in rockdale with a pool I try and get to on weekends. Started seeing a personal trainer, and when the pre-paid sessions are up I'll likely get another set.

4. Running. Not yet. Must start.

5. Smoking. Almost 6 weeks!!

6. Caffiene. Okay, so this has been crap. I've generally limited myself to one coffee a day, and one cola beverage, but I fail spectacularly about 2 days a week. On the flip side, my water intake is way up.

7. Diet. Slightly better. Started bringing more lunches, and still making lots of food at home, but not always the right things. Snacking on fruit gets my sweet tooth really successfully. Contemplating doing the weight watchers things again.

And now a new one

8. Working on things with J. There's been a lot of upheaval in my life ver the past year, causeing some crazy, expecially with the trip home, being an anxious mess when I got back, things are very much at a comfortable, but not great place. I've finally gotten myself back to a place mentally where I can put the effort into this that I need to, and that's a good thing. They aren't bad, but they aren't good either, and neither of us are making an effort right now, and that has to change, or we'll simply pull further apart into our own interests and things, something I trtuly do not want to see happen.

Some days

I really want to kill the people I work with/around. Simple concepts, like getting training requests, roster changes, time&materials billables in on time eludes the majority of the people on my team, making me feel like a glorified babysitter rather then an Operations Co-ordinator. Add to this the fact that I get the strangest phone calls from engineers at the oddest hours, and it puts me in a good mood some days.

Thank the gods I'm working from home today. Already i've dealt with so-called crises from three of the engineers, and if they had come to my desk to tell me these things, I likely would have strangled them. Though that might be the lack of coffee...

As much as at moments like this I want to throw my hands up and say 'Engineers!!!*' and write it off to that, I know that it isn't why these guys are like that. They're like that becuase they've never had to not be. In the end it comes down to one thing, taking responsibility for yourself, and your own actions, in all that you do, whether it be work, regular life, etc. It's something that seems to elude more and more people these days, as we seem to have set up almost safety nets that allow people to not take any responsibility for themselves, and as a society, I think we tend to pat them on the back and tell them that it's okay when we don't. It's something that I so my best to recognise and avoid in my own life, and it frustrates me when I see it in my friends, though, I will find myself saying things to friends. When I see it in coworkers and in management, who's whole job is to deal with these small details, and to ensure that the people under them are perrforming what are required duties , it absolutely infuriates me. In fact, after a few nice nudges, I have a tendency to turn into psycho hose beast from the nth dimension. All in a very quiet calm and rational way, which, knowing me and my temper, is actually much scarier to deal with.

*Three of my very best friends are engineers. None of them have this horrible habit. Therby dispproving my otherwise attractive thesis that it is simply like this because they are engineers. A much more convenient way of putting it, but not very accurate.

The pain I put myself through

I had my first appointment with a personal trainer today. I now remember why I hated my old personal trainer. They make you do the things that hurt, and between sessions, you need to do more of the work that hurts so the very cute but shockingly stern boy standing over you doesn't laugh you out of the gym.

It's a good way to go really, it is a unique form of motivation, and really, it's rather pleasant, and eye-candy filled, but have I mentioned that gods I HURT???

That is all.

Projects

Sometimes I need to outline these as well, otherwise I tend to get a little lost with them. All long term, and more for my own reference then anything.

In-Progress Projects
1) Pewter token. I finally got the files I need, which is good. However, I want to try recasting the other token if I put a little loop at the top. That's something that is likely going to have to get put off til next week at the earliest.

2) German Keyhole Dress. 1/4 - 1/3 done. Progressing well. At this rate will definitely be done for the trip home. However, the underdress, headwear, and shoes need to get done too. Garg. I think I'll work on the underdress, and leave the rest til after Pennsic, but it's the goal outfit for the comp in November.

3) Black and white kirtle/cote. Need to fell the seams, put buttons on other sleeve, do buttonloops and hem. Should also be finished for trip home. Would like to make surcote for it too, but not a priority. Hood though. A hood would be good. And fairly fast.

4) Tunic/Pants for Athol. Now, the tunic that is already cut looks just massive. Pants cut, need to sew. Will work on that next week. Then have to figure out what to do with the other material he gave me. Why is boy garb easier then girl garb?

Things I want to do/start in no particular order
1) Roman. No idea what this involves, or anything, but it's up there.

2) Shoes. I want to make shoes. 2 pairs actually, one to go with the late period stuff (like the german) and a 14th century pair.

3) Tablet weaving. Need to learn this to be able to properly finish German underdress and headpiece. Or inkle weaving. Or something.

4) Green cotehardie with black kirtle

5) Burgundy and Gold Silk Bliaut

6) Armour. As much as I want to before though, it isn't going to start til after Pennsic, the next month and a half have to be focussed on garb and getting other stuff ready.

It's a good thing I've been spending about 2 nights a week at home watching dvds/strange geeky tv shows and sewing. I think I need to keep this habit up.

It seemed like a good idea at the time

Picture it

Saturday night, 7 of us gathered at a girlfriend's house, it having been far too long since the girls hung out together. Since my hen's night in fact. Amazing food, lots of wine, really stupid photographs, and then, the brilliant idea hit me.

I'd have a cigarette.

Never mind that it had been four weeks almost since my last one, it was a flash of genius. One cigarette wouldn't make me a smoker again, I could pick it up then walk away again, strong like bull, all of that crap.

Nicking one from a friend, I sat for a moment before I lit up, enjoying it. I've alwyas liked smoking, that's half of my problem. I lit up. I took a drag. Then another. And one more.

Then it happened. It hit me. The undeniable fact of the matter. No matter how much wine I might have had, cigarettes are gross. Revolting even. What the hell was I doing? What had I been thinking for the past 17 years of my life as I happily puffed away?

Apparently I hadn't.

Quickly I butted it out, chagrined, embarassed almost. Maybe it was a necessary experience, to further drum it into my thick Canadian skull that smoking is bad, and gross, and not something I should be doing.

Getting sorted out

Really, it's about that time. Time to realise that while I've made a few good starts lately, I need to actually outline some goals for myself for the next while. Without that I'll get lax and let things slide. So I decided to use this blog for that purpose.

1. Stretching. Especially during the day. a) I have horrid posture and b) I have a lot of tension in my neck/back caused by the joys of working on a computer all day long. I've re-entered my twice daily stretch reminders into my outlook calender to flash at me all day, and I must do more at home as well, going back to the stretches from physio.

2. Physio. See above. Also note knees from hell(tm) due to my many years of rugby. I haven't been in far to long so I need to find myself a physiotherapist and go, especially I find as I exercise more i'm getting twinges in my better left knee. This = bad. One of the things I do really enjoy is running, and until I get back into physio, building up to any sort of long distance running just won't work.

3. Gym. I need to buckle under and join a gym. I used to go daily, and it's one of those things I actually enjoy. I like getting up early and going, I like going on lunch. Made an appointment to go see the people at fitness first tomorrow. There are two in North Sydney, and one near Broadway, so this is good.

4. Running. I'd like to eventually work myself back up to half marathon levels. 22k by about Christmas. It's a very long slope to work up, but if I schedule it in, and do the other things leading up to this point, then in a month or month and a half I should be able to start training three times a week. I'm giving myself a goal date for the end of July for starting that, but I'm determined to get out on weekends and go for a run. It'll be slow to start but it's worth it.

5. Smoking. I've quit. It's been 3 weeks and 2 days. Now lets keep it that way.

6. Caffiene. Need to cut down my intake. Back to limiting myself to one coffee and one cola like bevvie per day. Or two coffees, or... You get the idea. Replace coffee and diet coke intake with water.

7. Diet. Mainly, just pay attention to what I'm eating. I know better, I've had years of experience with this. Cook for myself, bring my lunches, increase fresh food content, decrease pre-prepared foods. SImple changes that can make a whole lot of difference.

I think 7 points are enough for now. More then that and I bear getting overwhelmed. Of course, these are simply the fitness based goals, the rest of the goals to follow later.