I was chatting with colleagues today about weekend plans and one mentioned going to the Fluff festival tomorrow. Finally! I always miss it. For some reason I think it should be in spring. I've been wanting to go for years.
Now the only thing I faced was who could I talk into going with me at this 11th hour. Because you know these things are more fun with a friend.
And the friend that's joining me? Who better to enjoy a Fluff festival with than a 3 year old? I was able to snag my god son for the afternoon. I though it would be a cool way to be introduced to a new food - going to a festival dedicated to fluff. Except it looks like he's already tried fluff. The nice thing is I get to indulge in fluff for an afternoon with him and at the end of the day, return him back to his parents when the sugar crash hits! I have to say I love my life! Now, just hoping the rain lets up and the sun comes out in time for our outing.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Stairs Update
It’s been a week (almost) and here’s what I’ve discovered:
- Habits die hard. I’ve found myself walking towards the elevator and escalators out of habit instead of the stairs. Especially if I’m reading and walking - not paying attention completely.
- Elevators are more part of my world than I realized.
- Going to a project meeting with colleagues there was no way around taking the elevator up to the 32nd floor. No way I could say, “I’ll see you in 20 minutes after I’ve climbed all the stairs.” Assuming I could even pull this feat off. Thankfully I was exempt since didn’t have access to the stairs anyways.
- Walking with a colleague, it’s hard to split away mid-conversation when they head into the elevator. I gently suggest the stairs, but there are several folks with the cold that the stairs make them wheeze.
- Walking the stairs means I forget more stuff - don’t know why. Twice I’ve found I've gotten to the top of 8 flights and forgot something at my desk. Usually the internal cursing begins at this point.
- Walking down stairs on heels, regardless of whether you are tired or not, is precocious. I learned to just pop the shoes off and pad down barefoot the 6 flights when I’m at work. Usually it’s an empty stairwell, so no issue. Going up is not an issue on the heels.
- This isn’t an original idea and I think I probably got the idea from colleagues. Found two other colleagues who have also banned elevators in their lives. One actually goes to the next level and walks everywhere. She did end up saying “I’ll see you in 20 minutes” and walked to the meeting instead of taking the taxi with us. Surprisingly we left almost at the same time and I think we got there a minute or two before her. City driving!
- I’m eyeing a new gadget - the Fit Bit ultra. It tracks stuff like steps, miles, stairs, and even sleep. And you can see if you’re meeting your targets or not, all down with pretty charts when you upload the data. I like the idea of working towards a positive target (x many steps) than a negative target (no elevators). I like to think it’ll push me to stay with it.
- I was working the Fit Bit into the budget for next month - October. It’s not cheap - $100.
- I went to the dentist today. The Fit Bit is getting worked into the budget for November. Dental work is expensive.
Monday, September 24, 2012
My Town
I've recently found out about a slew of friends (or friends of friends) who have recently moved or about to move to my town from other areas in greater Boston. They're all friends in their thirties. And exciting to have them as closer neighbors.
At first I was super excited (still am) since when I first moved to my town the people I knew were all older than me, sometimes by decades and I knew them more through my industry than hanging out with. And over the years the people I've become friends, mostly from being on committees have also been older and lived in the town much longer. But now all my contemporaries are joining my good taste in towns and I'm suddenly aware of how much I've not fully taken advantage of exploring my town and learning all the ins and outs.
I just realized this summer we had a beach - the kind with a life guard and everything. You can put it mildly that I'm not always up to date on all the great stuff. Which I never noticed before since I hung out with friends in other towns and not my own. But now that's all changing. I won't be the guru about all the neat things in town for those who visit - I'll be surpassed by some of my friends. Which is great since I can cheat and learn more easily about stuff and yet I still feel it erodes my claim to the town. I was here first - darn it!
And then it dawned on me. My name is all over town. In bronze. On the plaques of the buildings I've worked on. I have nothing to worry about - this is my town, and I'm happy to share it.
At first I was super excited (still am) since when I first moved to my town the people I knew were all older than me, sometimes by decades and I knew them more through my industry than hanging out with. And over the years the people I've become friends, mostly from being on committees have also been older and lived in the town much longer. But now all my contemporaries are joining my good taste in towns and I'm suddenly aware of how much I've not fully taken advantage of exploring my town and learning all the ins and outs.
I just realized this summer we had a beach - the kind with a life guard and everything. You can put it mildly that I'm not always up to date on all the great stuff. Which I never noticed before since I hung out with friends in other towns and not my own. But now that's all changing. I won't be the guru about all the neat things in town for those who visit - I'll be surpassed by some of my friends. Which is great since I can cheat and learn more easily about stuff and yet I still feel it erodes my claim to the town. I was here first - darn it!
And then it dawned on me. My name is all over town. In bronze. On the plaques of the buildings I've worked on. I have nothing to worry about - this is my town, and I'm happy to share it.
Stairs
As most of my friends know, I’m anti-gym. It’s just not my thing. The last thing I want to do is exercise for exercise sake. I like exercise to be done as a bi-product of something else - something fun. I didn’t get as much bike riding to work done this summer as I had last summer and I’m feeling a bit guilty. I’ve been looking around trying to find a good fit and bringing more exercise into my daily life. I’m feeling older and realize that this is something that I probably need - both for mental and physical health. I’ve dabbled with the idea of doing yoga again - classes or at home, but that hasn’t happened yet. I’ve looked and looked and looked and have finally decided to face the obvious elephant in the room standing right in front of me and write it down. I’m forgoing elevators.
There I said it - I wrote it down. No more elevators for me. Funny to say considering I spent the first 18 years of my life in a town that I think only had three buildings with elevators (ok, maybe it wasn’t that small, but there weren’t any elevators in my daily life). But now, I’m a big city girl. And, I finally work at a company where we occupy the whole building so the stairs are unlocked and accessible during business hours. I’m also going to add escalators to the list, but with a caveat - here’s the exceptions:
- If the stairs are locked because it’s after hours - then I can (and should) use the elevator.
- I get one free pass a week for using the elevator at work instead of the stairs. To be used when I’m tired and have the heels on.
- Use stairs instead of escalators unless I’m trying to catch a train and the stairs would make me miss it.
- I get to use the escalator going up at Porter but have to walk up it. It’s a long haul out of that station.
- I get to use the escalator/elevator when traveling and I have luggage.
It sounds like a good plan - works on the thighs and cardio - good target areas for me. I must run up and down between floors at least a half dozen times a day. I’m going to guess I average about 20 flights a day at work (up and down). The whole heels thing made it easier to excuse myself from running the stairs, especially when I was overworked and more likely to stumble. So, what do you think? I wrote it down, so that means it’s going to happen right? This morning I was reading and habit kicked-in and I took the elevator up. But the rest of the time so far (4 hours) I’ve taken the stairs - so far so good!
There I said it - I wrote it down. No more elevators for me. Funny to say considering I spent the first 18 years of my life in a town that I think only had three buildings with elevators (ok, maybe it wasn’t that small, but there weren’t any elevators in my daily life). But now, I’m a big city girl. And, I finally work at a company where we occupy the whole building so the stairs are unlocked and accessible during business hours. I’m also going to add escalators to the list, but with a caveat - here’s the exceptions:
- If the stairs are locked because it’s after hours - then I can (and should) use the elevator.
- I get one free pass a week for using the elevator at work instead of the stairs. To be used when I’m tired and have the heels on.
- Use stairs instead of escalators unless I’m trying to catch a train and the stairs would make me miss it.
- I get to use the escalator going up at Porter but have to walk up it. It’s a long haul out of that station.
- I get to use the escalator/elevator when traveling and I have luggage.
It sounds like a good plan - works on the thighs and cardio - good target areas for me. I must run up and down between floors at least a half dozen times a day. I’m going to guess I average about 20 flights a day at work (up and down). The whole heels thing made it easier to excuse myself from running the stairs, especially when I was overworked and more likely to stumble. So, what do you think? I wrote it down, so that means it’s going to happen right? This morning I was reading and habit kicked-in and I took the elevator up. But the rest of the time so far (4 hours) I’ve taken the stairs - so far so good!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Thursday Travel
Remember how I mentioned I had a lot of travel coming up? Well today was the first trip which almost didn't happen. Last night I started getting a wicked headache. No problem, my "medicine" for headaches is sleep so I crawled into bed after arranging for a cab to pick me up at 6 am the next morning.
But then I woke up with the headache not only still there but getting worse, verging on migraine level. In classic style, I ignored it and went running about getting ready. It wasn't until I was sitting in the cab on my way to Logan airport that by pausing the headache just slammed into the foreground.
By the time we arrive at my terminal, I'm barely holding onto not being sick in the cab. I slowly walk through the door and make a bee line to the row of seats just inside. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to master this headache that's descended on me. I've been popping pills, drinking fluids and spent the time slowly eating the English muffin I had brought with me. It wasn't looking good. I had a few more minutes before I had to make the executive decision whether to shakily make my way to the gate or call it quits and call Nick to come get me - no way I could make it through another cab ride.
I make one last try to force mind over matter and muster my last bit of focus and stand up and start walking to my gate. Interestingly the more I walked the better I started feeling. This might be doable. I make it through security, pick up another bottle of water and walk right onto the plane - no waiting. I settle in and proceed to take 10 minute cat naps throughout my flight.
By the time I land, I'm much better. Something did the trick - water, food, drugs (baby aspirin mind you) or sleep. The headache is no longer front and center. Throughout the day it hovers in the background. And I've been worried it will jump front and center but I'm almost home - just one more cab ride.
And the best thing - not only was my meeting a success and I was able to catch up with staff in our DC office, I was able to snag an earlier flight! I was scheduled to get home after 11 pm - long day. Very long day when you've been wrestling with a headache.
But then I woke up with the headache not only still there but getting worse, verging on migraine level. In classic style, I ignored it and went running about getting ready. It wasn't until I was sitting in the cab on my way to Logan airport that by pausing the headache just slammed into the foreground.
By the time we arrive at my terminal, I'm barely holding onto not being sick in the cab. I slowly walk through the door and make a bee line to the row of seats just inside. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to master this headache that's descended on me. I've been popping pills, drinking fluids and spent the time slowly eating the English muffin I had brought with me. It wasn't looking good. I had a few more minutes before I had to make the executive decision whether to shakily make my way to the gate or call it quits and call Nick to come get me - no way I could make it through another cab ride.
I make one last try to force mind over matter and muster my last bit of focus and stand up and start walking to my gate. Interestingly the more I walked the better I started feeling. This might be doable. I make it through security, pick up another bottle of water and walk right onto the plane - no waiting. I settle in and proceed to take 10 minute cat naps throughout my flight.
By the time I land, I'm much better. Something did the trick - water, food, drugs (baby aspirin mind you) or sleep. The headache is no longer front and center. Throughout the day it hovers in the background. And I've been worried it will jump front and center but I'm almost home - just one more cab ride.
And the best thing - not only was my meeting a success and I was able to catch up with staff in our DC office, I was able to snag an earlier flight! I was scheduled to get home after 11 pm - long day. Very long day when you've been wrestling with a headache.
Travel Notes
This week marked the second week in a row of traveling for work where they weren't just day trips but multiple destinations back to back. You can tell I've been traveling a bit more than usual when:
1. I run into a coworker in one of those snaking lines to get through security. We traded notes on recent projects we've both been traveling for when we'd pass each other. A fun way to make it through security.
2. I forget to write down my destination address but find when I get in the taxi at the airport I spit it out without thinking - apparently I have it memorized.
3. I realize I should get a taxi to Reagan Airport when an alert pops up on my email while I'm on a conference call saying I'm departing in an hour and a half. Time to hussle!
4. I go to check-in at the airport by swiping the credit card at one of the self check-in kiosks and I'm stumped when it asks me to put in the first three letters of my destination city. Got it on the second try and apparently I'm heading to Newark (Philli was my first guess).
5. I don't politely wait at the end of a ridiculously long and poorly managed security line at Terminal B (mental note - don't fly out of this terminal, stick with JetBlue). It's shear chaos since the number of people goes half way down the terminal way beyond the ribbons that keep people in queue. Half the people are keeping the four lines and the other half of the people just ignore the lines and butt in at the official entry of the lines. I realize the line I'm in isn't moving partly because of everyone cutting so pop over and cut in the next line which was brilliant - it was the only line that moved. It allowed me time to pop into the bathroom which I was dying to do since I was on the conference call back at the office.
6. I have no idea where I'm going when I land but the great thing is I have all this technology that allows me to get away with preparing properly. Or so I think!
7. And I pack 10 minutes before I head out the door this morning. Threw a bunch of stuff into my weekend bag and cross the fingers I didn't forget anything.
1. I run into a coworker in one of those snaking lines to get through security. We traded notes on recent projects we've both been traveling for when we'd pass each other. A fun way to make it through security.
2. I forget to write down my destination address but find when I get in the taxi at the airport I spit it out without thinking - apparently I have it memorized.
3. I realize I should get a taxi to Reagan Airport when an alert pops up on my email while I'm on a conference call saying I'm departing in an hour and a half. Time to hussle!
4. I go to check-in at the airport by swiping the credit card at one of the self check-in kiosks and I'm stumped when it asks me to put in the first three letters of my destination city. Got it on the second try and apparently I'm heading to Newark (Philli was my first guess).
5. I don't politely wait at the end of a ridiculously long and poorly managed security line at Terminal B (mental note - don't fly out of this terminal, stick with JetBlue). It's shear chaos since the number of people goes half way down the terminal way beyond the ribbons that keep people in queue. Half the people are keeping the four lines and the other half of the people just ignore the lines and butt in at the official entry of the lines. I realize the line I'm in isn't moving partly because of everyone cutting so pop over and cut in the next line which was brilliant - it was the only line that moved. It allowed me time to pop into the bathroom which I was dying to do since I was on the conference call back at the office.
6. I have no idea where I'm going when I land but the great thing is I have all this technology that allows me to get away with preparing properly. Or so I think!
7. And I pack 10 minutes before I head out the door this morning. Threw a bunch of stuff into my weekend bag and cross the fingers I didn't forget anything.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Weeken Leftovers
- Strained a muscle in my neck a week ago. Initially it was splitting migraines anytime I moved my head. Slowly it’s gotten better/I’ve learned to live with the headaches. Almost healed now!
- Self diagnosed that the strain must be a result of: stress, sleeping weird, my heavy bag I carry everyday (with the ipad), and/or my long hair.
- I chopped off a foot of my hair - I now I have a shoulder length bob and bought a flat iron this last weekend in my attempt to keep the look I left the salon with. After the first cut it felt like my neck grew - such a weight was lifted.
- Traveled to Princeton Thursday. Here’s how it went: Packed the night before. Woke up, got ready and drove to the airport, didn’t hit any major traffic. Found a good parking spot (one of the last). Waited through security. Walked to my gate and onto my plane. Sat down and off we went. Perfect timing! Landed in Newark and made my way to NJTransit. Chatted with the attendant while waiting for my train - swapping deals we’ve found on shoes, clothes and bras at TJ Maxx - gotta love NYC. The rest is boring work stuff.
- Then on my way back up to NYC Thursday after my meetings, I got thinking, what should I do for dinner. Called Noah and caught him a moment before he was heading back home to Brooklyn - perfect timing! Got out at Penn Station at 6 pm - the que for taxis was ridiculous so walked the 15 blocks to my hotel - which looked out onto Time Square, up on the 36th floor. Result - blistered feet and an annoyance with people on the sidewalks - it was crowded. Ended up dining at ABC Kitchen - fabulous meal attained after hovering by the bar for seats to clear up. Started with a marvelous melon salad - sweet and light and salty and hot and minty - perfect combos. Followed by a squash blossom three cheese gourmet pizza - love fresh ricotta on pizzas - I always forget. Then for the main, had a “suckling pig” where every bite just melted on your mouth - done to perfection - this is the stuff you can’t come close to making at home. Topped off with a specialty donut plate. Perfect amount and a meal to remember - great food, great company and great ambiance.
- Friday, after my morning meeting, lunch at the famous Les Halles (home base of chef Anthony Bourdain - I don’t watch cable but if I did I’d know this guy), I took a cab to the airport. Luckily I double checked - almost went to Newark instead of LaGuardia - opps. Showed up at the counter and they were able to bump me to the earlier flight that was just leaving. Waited through security. Brisker walk to the gate this time and directly onto my plan. Sat down, off we went, I nodded off, and next thing I know we’ve landed and I’m home!
- Except, it took me another half hour to find my car. Flew out on US Air, flew back on United. One is terminal A the other terminal B. Wish I could whistle and my car would come running to me. Instead I made one last treck and sunk into the warm embrace of my air-conditioned car. The dogs were barking but it was Friday afternoon and I was getting home early! No complaints.
- Slept for almost 12 hours Friday night!
- Laid low recharging the battery this weekend and only got half the chores done, but splurged on a shopping trip to TJ Maxx - the NJ Transit got me missing the place.
- Now I’m back at work wearing my new Escada grey wool turtleneck sweater celebrating this little window of fall before the high heat returns later this week and getting freaked out watching this video of this guy who photographed himself every day for 12 years. It’s like a staring contest you can’t win.
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