Expensive Saturday

Ended up going shopping yesterday. I first went to Fred Meyer's because I heard on the radio that they were having a sale on athletic gear. I must have missed it, because the only stuff they had on sale were over-stocked items. I did find some athletic pants to wear for warming up.

I then headed to Joe's ended up buying some new shoes that was to be much better for my flat feet. I then also picked up some tights and some gloves. I've tried on the tights and they don't leave much to the imagination! At the end of these two stops, I've spent just under $200.

I then drove by work to talked to my co-workers about a meeting on Monday which could get ugly, but I'll save that for some other time.

I then stopped at Sleep Country USA to shop for a new bed. I wanted to upgrade from my old twin mattress to hopefully a full size bed. Well, I ended up with a queen. The guy offered me the floor model, a queen size, for much cheaper than a new full size bed.

I went home afterwards to drop off the items I picked up from FM and Joe's. After a quick recovery, I headed over to Target to buy some new sheets for my new bed, which I picked up and set up earlier today, I can't wait to try it tonight! Sheets are pricey. I guess the last sheets I bought were on sale and were for a much smaller mattress. Oh well, luckily there was a sale and I managed to get some generic blue sheets. Blue was perfect, cause they will go very well with my blue comforter.

But yeah, it was an expensive Saturday.

Run Joram Run

Coming from sports background where everything is practices dozens, hundreds of times to get it right just once, I wanted to simulate the 5K run I'll be running in two weeks; First step was to do it outdoors. Running on the flat ground will be different than running on a treadmill and also, I will have to deal with the chilly weather. So, this morning I decided to use my newly purchased tights and run in the cold. My roommate, Bri, decided to come along, which kind of surprised me since her running is at a much higher level. Well, I guess she's having a lot pain from the training, but wanted to run, but not her usual long distance.
After getting dressed from the cold morning, we headed toward the Burke-Gilman trail. Oh god it was cold! I only wanted to run about 15 minutes, so we started running in one direction and at 15 minutes, we would turn around and head back to my truck. The run started out cold, but thank god, I warmed up. While I struggled jogging and making sure I had no snot dripping down my nose, Bri just jogged easily and chatted away. As she talked, I could just muster a word here and there, cause, I was running out of breath. We ended up running just a little over 15 minutes in one direction before heading back. The total run ran just over 31 minutes and Bri estimated that we ran about 2.75 miles. Overall, the run was fun and a good experience, so I will try to run outside again before the 5k.

Oh yeah, Kibbie the cat is back!

No Cat?! (it gets darker)

Dark Betrayal

Around, all around, the furies gather.
My dread grows as an avenging sword falls against my heart.
It smites me, and darkly my
essence drips to the broken ground.
In numbness I cry out, Why?!
while oblivion laughs cruelly.
Now alone, my vitae falls upon wailing eyes.

This is because of you

Love 'Em or Leave 'Em

It's official, I signed up to run Love 'Em or Leave 'Em. It's only two weeks away, but it is only a 5k run.

No Cat?! (A little darker)

Alone in Darkness

the night falls without a sound, cold and alone I am.
the salvation for which I pine
flares once, then dies,
swept away by the all-encompassing dark.
all hope must surely perish.

my soul thrives no more.
how could you abandon me?
shadows surround me, crying,
we have lost our way.

No Cat?!

Another week without the house cat?!....

I felt the urge to put my feelings in writing
The thought of not being with you is frightening
You are my eternal sunshine
Especially for you I created this rhyme

Meeting you was like winning the grand prize
Especially when looking into your beautiful eyes
Words cannot express
What it makes me feel when I see you in distress

Kibbie, you mean so much to me
Being with you, one plus one equals three
I anxiously await our time ahead
Not being together, my heart feels dead

This Cat nip is for you, I hope you will like it
Hoping to capture your heart, bit by bit
I look forward to our next moment together
Without you, I feel life does not matter

I Impress the Youngins

I am Joram and I impress the youngins'. During my run on the treadmill yesterday, a couple of teenagers came into the apt gym. One of the girl's dad was in the gym also. To kill some time while waiting for the dad, the girls get on the machines and try them out. One of the girls unfortunately haven't visited a gym or exercised in a while. This was quickly noticeable as all she did was complain of her being out of breath for being on the machines for such a short time. This whole time, I was just jogging along on the treadmill. This caught the attention of the out-of-breath girl and was surprised that I was still jogging along. I finally stopped jogging after 30 mins and walked as a cool down for 5 minutes, and of course the girl was *** all like, "Oh my god, you deserve a candy bar",
And I immediately reply, "NO".
Her friend laughs saying that candy would just make me fat and wouldn't help with the running. Smart friend.
The girl was asking me how long I've been on the treadmill, I tell her, "35 minutes"
and she's all, "wooooow, oh my god".
I wonder how she would have acted if I told her about my roommate who runs for three to four hours at a time. I think that would have literally blew her mind. No, like, really.

I Eat A Lot

I am Joram and I eat a lot. I feel that I just ate a lot today, what do you think?

Breakfast:
Scrambled Eggs (2 whole eggs)
Pancake (~5 inches)
Blueberry syrup

Mid Morning Snack
Oatmeal (~5 oz) small amount!

Pre-walk Lunch
My horrible pasta salad. It sucks, if anyone has a good pasta salad recipe, I need it now.

Post-walk Lunch
Rice (~1 cup)
Chicken (~6 oz)

Mid-afternoon snack
Open face salmon sandwich...
Some of my leftover baked salmon(~3 oz) on one piece of wheat bread.

Dinner
Spinach with some vinaigrette (I ate your spinach Broomie)
Brown Rice (~1 cup)
Chicken (~6 oz)

Post dinner snack
Protein shake, which consists of;
12 oz of milk
1/2 cup of blueberries
1 tbsp of peanut butter
1 serving of protein powder

I don't want to do the math, but that's a lot of calories. I typically don't have a pre-walk lunch, but I wanted to get some extra carbs in me for my run today. Man, I'm going to get fat again.

Week's End

Run total for the week: 7 miles

This running program that I've been using has been good so far, but looking ahead, it looks like it just went from easy peasy to give-up-now-you-will-never-be-able-to-run-this-far mileage. What am I talking about? It's been suggested that you don't add more than 10% to you distance every week, well, over the next week, the program has me running 8.25 miles. That's a 17.86% addition! Don't give me this, that's only 1.25 miles, or that's only like 12-14 more minutes (like my roommate), but that's seems like a large leap. I guess I'll see how it goes.

On another note, I decided to add a little focus time to one muscle group in my lifts; at the moment, I've been focusing on my shoulders. I want to focus on something a couple weeks or more at a time. I added four lifts for this, although only two seems to be giving me the muscle stress I'd like. Anyway, I should get ready for my 2.75 mile run soon.

Dessert Diet

It's really a simple diet:
Step 1. Eat desserts
Step 2. ??????
Step 3. Profit
Look at my results!
The top photo is from Donut Bread night and the bottom photo is from last night.
Nah, actually it's more like getting up and moving around. Doing Taebo, yoga, running, spinning, lifting weights, and cutting down on excess calories - all these helped out with the fat loss. Also, the fact that I am just plain awesome!

Although, even with some positive results, I do have a ways to go to where I'd like to be at physically.

I've Lost My Roommate

I am Joram and I've lost my roommate. No, really. For the last few weeks, she's been spending most if not all of her free time at some friends' place. Sure, it started out at a few hours a nights for a couple nights out of the week, but now it's every night.
-They seem to have plenty of fun, well, I assume that's why she always return. I on the other hand, am usually stuck behind a computer.
-She's mentioned that the two guys hate their third roommate, so it'd be perfect if they could replace that third roommate with my roommate.
-They cook her meals, which my roommate have asked me in the past, but refused.
-I follow sports, especially since it's been bowl season and playoffs. She's meh about it, just like her friends, they don't watch sports.
-I always make a mess in the kitchen, and I know that keeping the sink and counter top clean is one of her peeves.
-At the guys' place, her commute to work would be reduced to "just down the road".
Then yesterday, she came home with a box, A BOX! It's only a matter of time before she pulls a Phoebe and starts moving out one item at a time. Well, I guess I better start looking for a roommate that likes video games and cats. Yeah, that's right, I'm keeping the cat!


Satire? Or I have abandonment issues.

What Smells Like Smoke?

I wanted to sleep in this morning, but unfortunately, Kibbie the cat woke me up at 7:00. Bah! First he takes over my bed last night so I couldn't go to sleep as early as I would have like and now he wakes me up. Anyway, I couldn't go back to sleep, so I decide to take advantage of being up so early. I had a protein shake, watched a few Saturday morning cartoons and then headed to the gym. Since I ran yesterday, I decided to use the stationary bike. When I got to the gym, another resident, had just gotten there just ahead of me. For a moment I thought she was a smoker, since the gym had the distinctive smell of smoke. As I'm getting prepared to get on the bike, the other resident let's out a loud sigh, shakes her head and looks at me. What the hell did I do to you?! I was ready to rumble, but she takes a few steps towards the garbage and on the floor next to the garbage was a bong. Ohhhh, that explains the smell and her sighing at me. We both shake our head at the situation, that someone has just ruined our lungs for their pleasure.
*Sigh*
We both decide to continue on with our workouts and deal with the smelly atmosphere. About five minutes into my ride, some teenager comes walking in, avoids eye contact with anyone, walks over to the garbage and picks up the bong. I was waiting for the other resident, who was a lady in her middle ages to give him a talking, but that never happened. I on the other hand, just started grinning and shaking my head. I continue on the bike and in the end, I was spinning(?) for 40 minutes. I really don't know how long I can be on a bike, since sitting on the bike saddle cause certain things down there to not get as much blood as I would like. :p

On another note, I don't know what it is, but my stomach is acting up. I had to go to the store for some medication to hopefully settle my stomach. It's been about at hour since I had took the medicine and my stomach is still acting up. I was ready to pig out on some hot dogs and nachos for the Seahawks game today, but that might not happen.

A Run & A Target Adventure.

6.25 miles for the week. Hmm, not bad.

Knees felt a lot better today. I raided my closet, but I only managed to find only one knee brace. I know I have a few more somewhere. I'll have to look again tomorrow. Anyway, I tried running with the brace, but it felt weird to have only one knee braced. I felt ... imbalanced. I decided to take it off only a few minutes in my run and continued without it. I finished my 2.25 mile run today with very little joint pains. Although, I am starting to stiffen up, so I'm going to dedicate some time tomorrow and throughout next week for some stretching.

I went back to Target tonight to return some shorts that were too big. After a brief wait in line, I returned the item. While there, I decided to go ahead and take a quick look inside the store. Well, this quick look turned into an hour and I left the store with $70 worth of new clothes. Geez, I go return a $12 item and somehow end up spending $70. I'm weak!

Chill!!!

Take it easy, don't over-react. Calm down. 2, 3, 4....

Wrong Dates

Today's the 11th?! Really?! Boy was I off - I was faxing some stuff at work today and was putting that it was the 9th today on the cover sheets. I must have been really out of it, because there are calendars everywhere at my work. *sigh* I need to pay attention.

2 miles*

I was suppose to run two miles none stop today, but sadly, I stopped twice. Although, those two times I stopped to walk lasted for less than two minutes, so overall, it didn't go too bad. Two miles is the longest I've run at one time well, I think ever. I ran for about 15 minutes in 8th grade and we had conditioning for football, but none were for two miles. Grats to me.

Felt some pain with the run today. Nothing crazy, but there were some pain in my knee joints. I think I'm going to have to go into my closet and search for my knee braces because I really don't know if my knees can handle these runs I've been doing. Actually, yes, I really need to do this - I've been running with knee braces since my injury in high school.

Svelte

So over the weekend I went out and got a new belt. I guess all this time in the gym is paying off since the right places are getting smaller. I still wouldn't call myself fit, but my roommate did call me "svelte", which I've never heard before. After looking it up, I think I know why;

svelte - adjective, svelt-er, svelt-est.
1. slender, esp. gracefully slender in figure; lithe
2. suave; blandly urbane

from dictionary.com

Yeah, none of those would normally describe me. I think my roommate's on something. Anyway, I'm starting to think I should do a 5k or something, since that would definitely help me with my goals of getting lean. The Love 'em or Leave 'em is about 4 1/2 weeks away - wonder if I could be ready in time.

One Million Miles Away

Ahh, memories. I spent countless hours years ago trying to get the name of the song and artist in the background. Then more time trying to find the album or just the single.
Definitely one of the more memorable commecials.

AIM Flashback

An old conversation, I'm ACanova;
...
Zebre bleu: Yeah. How are things going up there? Any new gossip that I need to hear about?
ACanova: Gossip? Well, several people thought I was suicidal for a while
Zebre bleu: Why?
ACanova: I was leaving sad and depressed away messages on AIM
Zebre bleu: Really? All of the away messages of yours that I read were words of inspiration. Why were you leaving sad messages?
ACanova: Those inspirational words were after people started asking me about my away messages...I was just feeling sad and depressed
Zebre bleu: Oh, why were you feeling that way?
ACanova: I don't know, I was just feeling lonely I think
...

Album # 1 & 2

Decided to listen to In Rainbows by Radiohead while I was in the gym today. My initial reaction is that it is too mellow and slow-paced for a workout music. It's a nice listening or background music, but not really for my taste in the gym.

The other album I listened to is Insomniatic by Aly & AJ (ROFL). Definitely a pop album for your younger generation. Even though the subject of most of the song are about relationships (sort of), it does have some fast paced song that would work out well in my "gym music".

300 Workout

Ok, I looked at the "300 Workout" and I'm not in the shape to do it and do not have all the proper equipment, so I created my own 120 workout. Ok, there's an intermediate workout, but the site that had it has suddenly dissappered, so I tried to do the plan from memory;
15 x Lat Bar Pulldowns
15 x Pushups
30 x Jumping Jacks
15 x Body Weight Squat
30 x Mtn Climbers
15 x Lat Bar Pulldowns

I tried this out before my run and it didn't turn out so bad. I was out of breath at the end, but I wasn't exhausted or fatigue. I think I'm going to add 15 more pushups and 15 more squats to get it to 150 for next time. I'll eventually get it up to 300... eventually.

Edit:
I just checked again and the site is back up!
Here is the 150 workout;

15 bodyweight rows
25 bodyweight squats
15 pushups
50 jumping jacks
20 mountain climbers
10 close grip pushups
15 bodyweight rows

I Push People Away

True story.

My Subconscious

"He's a kind of person who's only happy when he's unhappy"

I heard this quote a while ago and I started wondering, am I one of those people? I seem to to never take advantage of the things I've been privileged with. *So sad*

I am young. I need to freaking take advantage of this privilege. I remember my insurance gig and I talked to a lot of people in their 50s, 60s, 70s & older and they pretty much talked to me about missing their youth. I was staring at myself in the mirror the other day in the gym and I started asking myself, "why did I stop doing this?" Probably cause I've been thinking I'm old.

I've been thinking I'm old for over 10 years! I'm not old, I'm young. My body hurts, but it can a whole lot worst, I am not bed-bound. I need to just abuse my body some more, I have a good idea of what my body can take and I need to test it.

I need to freaking move on, I seem to get attached to someone and not want to move on. I've been stuck in the past. I've met so many great people, but I'm still thinking of the past and how it was fun and great. Just of the top of my head, I know that three of my password are related to someone from my past. MY PAST!
******
My boss talked to me about my attendance today. I've been at work everyday I had to be there, but I have been late 1 or 2 minutes late A LOT! Basically I need to stop it and get to work on time. I know I haven't been the happiest at work for several reasons I don't really want to share here, but I kind of wonder if I'm subconsciously trying to get fired. Hmm, I need to get to work on time more.
******
I need...

So a New Year Begins

First of all, Happy 2008.

2007 for me was well, ok. I already some of the things I've done over the past year in a previous post so, I guess I won't repeat them again. I guess I should share my goals or resolutions for the new year.

Keep up the exercise
I actually started already a few weeks ago.
I must keep working on my aerobic by staying on the treadmill or on the stationary bike.

Keep watching what I eat
This one I've been doing for the most part for over a year now. I cook the majority of what I eat, so I know what's in it. Doing this help me manage to not gain weight. I guess with some exercise, the two should help me lose weight.

You know, those two are not really new, so I guess I should come up with something new.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Find and listen to some new music
I bought an ipod to listen so that I may have something to listen to while I work out, so now I want to listen to some new artist or album when I work out. I guess at least one new album a week would suffice. That would be 52 new albums for the year, hmm, that seems a lot. Well, we'll see how close I get.

More time with my friends.
Well, I just spend way too much in front of a computer that I could spend it with some friends - My roommate has first hand experience of this.

Find more friends(?)
Well, actually, make friends. I have all these co-workers that a few I do enjoy talking to at work, but I never see them outside of work. Also as a part of this, I should make an effort on learning some of the names of the people working on my floor. There has been so many times that I have to find someone and I have to talk to several people or go wandering around looking at people's nameplates.

Anyway, I guess three will work for now - Music, Time with Friends, and Be Friendly.

What am I doing? SRSLY!