Healthy Eating…HOOAHH!!!

Hey everyone!  As many of you know I lived in Portsmouth, Virginia, for the summer.  It was an INCREDIBLE summer with so many stories to tell.  Which I will, eventually!  Perhaps during a holiday break when I’m not slammed with homework.  Yup, I’m back in Duluth for the long haul!  I’m in my senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Superior graduating in May with a social work degree   It is incredible to FINALLY be at that point!  I am interning in the spring, but I don’t know where yet.  The three options my adviser and I narrowed down are the San Marco Apartments (check it out on the web, it’s an interesting facility…I’m most interested in this option), Polinsky Medical Rehabilitation Center (next favorite option), or Fon du Lac Human Services and/or the Center for American Indian Resources, which is apart of Fon du Lac.  I will post again when I have more information about where I’m interning and what I’ll be doing.  It doesn’t start until January.

As I said I want to stay in Duluth for the long haul.  I’m ready to start creating my life here and evolving the friendships I have made.  After living in VA for the summer and the trip back my mom had (we stopped in Dover, DE; NYC; Bird-In-Hand, PA; Toledo, OH; and Mackinaw City–to be blogged about later) I have realized my need to travel has been fulfilled.  While I haven’t seen the world yet, I have seen much more of the country than I ever thought I would by age 25.  My trip back made me realize (especially NYC and Bird-In-Hand, PA) that I don’t need to go to a different country to experience a different culture.  In all reality I can go next door even, if I want to do that!  Another push for keeping me in Duluth is the fact that I am SO sick of moving!  I have moved almost every year, if not twice in the same year!  I don’t want to deal with the hassle of housing and jobs by moving again.  Plus, I LOVE Duluth!  I started to miss it towards the end of the summer, and Minnesota too!  We really are lucky to experience the four seasons (yes, even winter…) along with all the other beautiful naturistic things Minnesota has to offer.    Duluth has a lot of what I want: it’s got the “big city feel” to it (although after Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and NYC I can honestly say it’s nothing compared to them!  haha), it’s got beautiful scenery in the city (everywhere I’ve lived so far I’ve had an incredible view of Lake Superior, and at any given moment on my drive I can see it…which comes with ships!), and considering the traffic I experienced this summer, Duluth has like, 0 traffic!  When I came back I was super shocked by how FEW cars there were on the highway for how ‘BIG’ of a town it is (86,000).  So yes, I’m ready Duluth….you are my home now

When I came back I also realized how much I needed to start eating healthier.  Yes, this is attempt #20 million, but I’ve been doing fairly decent at sticking with it.  It’s not a crazed work out thing, or “strictly” healthy food thing, but it’s more of a mind-set and lifestyle change.  I’ve stuck with it since the beginning of September and while I have “fallen” off the wagon here and there, overall at home I’ve been doing really good!  Things that I’m trying to change are drinking more water, drinking less caffeine (both coffee and soda), getting more exercise (i.e. taking my roommate’s dog on a walk, parking further away from the house, taking the farther parking spot), and saying “no” to the unhealthy foods and “yes” to the healthy ones.  It really does take work to get on the “good eating” train.  But I think the key thing is to have to WANT it.  Because for me, it was a matter of looking on the scale and really feeling disgusting.  Not because I think I’m fat or the scale deems me as fat, but because I KNOW how I eat and what I drink.

So, here is how my eating habits have changed.  First, I’m cutting down on the caffeine.  For all of you who know me, you know I usually always have something to drink with me and it’s usually always coffee or Diet Coke.  Last year between working at the hotel and school full time I can’t tell you how much coffee AND Diet Coke I had, but I’m sure it was not a healthy amount whatsoever.  I now have the little bottes (I call them the ‘lil guys) of caffeine free Diet Coke at the house.  Yup, you heard me right…this coming from the girl who used to make fun of her parents for not having “real” Diet Coke.  But, it DOES taste like Diet Coke and the more I drink it, the more I get used to it.  I know I’m going to want to have something “fun” to drink in the house, so it might as well be caffeine free.  Especially because at school I know I’ll get a ‘real’ Diet Coke.  Now, coffee.  This is a tough, especially in Minnesota.  It’s almost October and 45 degrees out somedays.  The desire to wear sweatpants ALL the time is back in full force (I can’t believe I even missed it during the summer, haha) and I love having something warm to drink.  So I’m allowing myself to have coffee in the morning, whether at home or at school.  No longer do I allow both at home and at school.  I LOVE the school’s coffee, but damn that car ride sucks without a warm beverage!  So that’s when I grab the water in the fridge.  Yup, I now buy bottled water.  I never used to, but my roommate this summer has a SHIT TON (and no, I’m not kidding) of water.  Enough to make me think it was for possible hurricane prevention!  But I grew to love having an-ice cold water ready in a matter of a second.  And I hate normal water (most of the time), but my friend Melissa introduced me to these things called Milo from Gatorade (I think?) that you can squeeze into the water.  0 calories and 0 sugar.  PERFECT!  Loved Crystal Life, but messy and left my teeth feeling like sugar was pasted on it.  These guys are $3.00 each but they last FOR-EV-ER.  Plus they are super portable!  Ok, so at school is the hardest to deny coffee cuz as said I LOVE it.  But I’ve been doing REALLY good with the caffeine watching, so usually of my T-TH classes I’ll allow myself two coffees one of the days.  It all depends on the type of class day I’m having.  A key thing that helps me pass up on the second coffee is “You’re doing SO GOOD with cutting down on caffeine!” and that holds me back.  Oh, and for those chilly winter (ok FALL, but still…come on MN!) nights….decaffeinated tea.  Yup, tea.  Not a favorite of mine, but I’m learning to like it.  It’s supposed to be relaxing as it is.  I’m not sure if THAT portion of it helps, but the decaffeinated part does.  It’s something warm and it won’t keep me up for hours! So as of now the only caffinated beverage in my house is coffee, of which I only allow myself to make in the mornings, that I decided I want instead of the one at school.  A few nights I’ve cheated and had a couple cups later at night, but it’s usually been if I’m going out or to get a second wind for homework.  Oh, and I’m NOT going decaffeinated on coffee because I just love caffeinated coffee!  I’m already cutting out on the Diet Coke, I’d rather have coffee be strong for me

Ok, onto the food portion.  This has been the hardest of me because you all should know that I LOVE fast food and the convenience of it.  However, after seeing that scale I just felt gross about it.  I didn’t know how to start out the healthy eating either because I’m a boxed-food girl with limited cooking abilities.  So I did some (not heavy) research online and learned the best tip ever: THE HEALTHIEST FOODS ARE ON THE OUTSIDE ISLES AT THE GROCERY STORE!  SO TRUE!  I haven’t boughten boxed foods at all this month (ok, Bomb Pops…but I LOVE those for a treat and are only 40 calories!).  So the first week of the month I decided to have salads for lunch and home made tacos for dinner.  I bought lettuce, sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa, h.burger, green beans, tomatoes (in the can cuz I’m lazy and didn’t want to chop at that point), apples, string cheese, yogurt, bottled water, and caffeine free Diet Coke.  I also bought the big soft shell tacos becuase I love soft shell   So the salad dressing.  What to choose?  Low calorie, high sodium?  Low sodium, high calorie?  Well, I figured I might as well indulge myself since I’m going somewhat cold-turkey style on the junk food, and got Thousand Island Dressing, keeping in mind not to overdue it.  The salad lunch took a little bit to figure out, but I was surprised at how filling they were!  I also would eat an apple and string cheese as snacks throughout the day.  The snacking during the day made it better for me because I no longer had that “OMG I’M STARVING” feeling, and I found myself full after my two tacos.  So I was surprised when my food ran out….BECAUSE I ATE IT ALL!  Yup!  I didn’t have to throw anything out due to it getting old, like so many times in the past. Oh, and I also am sure to have a glass of milk with each meal too.

That brings me to my second “healthy eating” grocery trip.  This time I went all out on the produce.  I bought red, green, yellow, and orange peppers.  Snap peas to snack on this time.  I endulged in the fruit section and bought peaches, apples, strawberries, and pears.  See, the school food place gave me a great idea for fruit on the go!  I chopped up all the fruit and put it in a plastic bag.  I bought big, plastic cups.  Now it’s breakfast on the go!  Just pour the fruit in the cup, grab a fork, and vala!  I’m excited to try it for school mornings to see how it goes!  If it’s a success, I’ll probably be doing it for work too, since I’ll be working day shifts   Oh, I’ve also LEARNED HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN!  I know, right?!  ME.  So I now put it in my salads AND the tacos (instead of h.burger).  Or sometimes snack on it (I have it chopped up) when I’m in the mood for a heavier snack.  OH YEAH!  How could I forget?  I found the shells to make “Taco Salads”!!!  I know they probably have no healthy gain whatsoever, but at least they will spice up my salad It’s all about being creative and trying something new for me these days!

Now all I need to do is invest in a lunch bag.  I’ve NEVER been successful at using them, but I’m so happy to finally be eating healthier that I want to continue it while at school.  T-Th class days have been the hardest.  And hanging out with friends.  Yes, I’ve fallen and had bar pizza, or chicken strips and fries at school…but I don’t consider it a total failure because I know I have healthy food to eat when I get home.  Plus, I’m already off to such a good start.  This last time shopping I planned for those “bad food” cravings, so I bought a frozen pizza.  I’m not hard on myself if I “fall” because this is the best attempt I’ve ever made!

I haven’t gone crazy mad with working out, yet.  I want to tackle one positive change at a time.  We all know how it can go with change…get overwhelemed, “fail” one too many times, and quit all together.  So I just want to EAT better ALL the time (if not close to) first.

I can’t tell you if I’ve lost any poundage since starting the healthy eating in September or not because I don’t have a scale around.  But I’m kind of glad, because even if I’m not loosing weight, I know I’m eating foods that are better for my body.  Once I have this healthy eating thing down, then I’ll be more serious about the gym.  But for now its an “I’ll go when I feel inspired” sort of thing.  Because for now, my roommates have a dog who loves to go on walks AND it’s still nice outside

So there ya have it…my healthy eating lifestyle change.  It’s not perfect yet, but I’m happy with it and am looking forward to being more creative with it

OH, and I know a lot of people have said “Eating healthy is too expensive.”  When really it’s not!  I’ve spent the same amount of foods on boxed and junk food.  Take a look at some of the prices from my receipt:

Peppers: $1.89 each;  Apples: $9.54  (these were more expensive than I thought, I got 6);   Canteloupe: $2.59; 3 White Peaches: $3.40; 3 Pears: $3.10; Strawberries: $2.99; iceburg lettuce: $1.49.

Here’s where it gets spendy, but if you’re a smart shopper (which I’m not totally there yet), Im sure there are ways to make this less expensive:

Chicken meat: $8.50, Steak (I get the big kind and hadn’t had it in a while!): $8.50;  Yogurt: $2.39 (80 calories in Danon while 120 calories in cheaper brands), pizza: $4.99, and other extras that I didn’t need but wanted   Still healthy though

Ok, I’ve probably bored you enough, but I’ve been excited to write about this!  If anyone has practical, useful advice about eating healthier, or easy healthy meals (esp produce based) I’d love to hear them!

Worst Walmart Experience…EVER!!!

I have to share my worst-Walmart-experience-EVER!  The only plus side is the teenage guy helping me was really nice.  The Walmart in my town (of 86,000) is NOT a SuperWalmrt.  So I have to go to the town next to me, about a 10-15 minute drive.  I don’t mind it, especially when I have a huge list of different household items added to my usual grocery list.

This trip brought me there with ambition, different than the drag grocery shopping tends to bring.  However my ambition started to decline; my first sign should have been either the screaming kids throughout the store or the incompetent cart pushers.  I was involved in many ‘cart jams’ and was unable to avoid them no matter what tactic was tried.  I decided to use the self-checkout due to the fact there was no lines and I had used them prior to this trip.  Now mind you, the self check out lines are NOT like fast food drive-thrus.  They are not meant to go any faster than any other line.  It’s simply a convenience for the shopper who would rather do it him or herself.

That being said, I can’t tell you how many damn times that computerized “helper” lady said “Please remove item from the bagging area.”  At least 5 or 6.  I even did the weight option for my bananas correctly, but somehow could not manage to figure out how this machine wanted me to “clear my items” when they were already cleared!  I felt bad because the Walmart worker had to come help me many times and he had the look of frustration–but friendly frustration–on his face.  Each time my tone sounded frustrated I apologized to him because I have worked various customers-suck-service jobs and know how irritating it can be when it’s not you who’s not doing your job, but a piece of MACHINERY.   Adding to my stress was a lady behind me who had the look of bordem and hand movement of “please try to hurry.”

So, anyway, I finally get my $150 worth of groceries and household items into my cart (cleared from the bagging area…), I open my purse and my checkbook.  What else could happen during this already embarrassing self checkout lane?  WHERE IS MY CHECK CARD????? I mentally panicked!  I had run many errands before the Walmart trip and absolutely could not believe I didn’t have it with me!  I saw my checkbook and noticed the ‘Check’ option on the machine and pressed it.  *Sigh*. “Please wait for assistance.”  So the poor guy had to come help me again.  He did is swipey trick, which I then had to go to his stand.  He was so apologetic and nice that I couldn’t help but smile at him, even though I was frustrated, because it’s not often you get a Walmart employee who smiles through the frustration.  I felt like a curse because it took him TWO times to enter in what he needed from my I.D.!  And again he apologized for him not entering it right!

So, the check situation was rectified and I was on my way out when BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!!!! By this point in time I was not even ashamed or embarrassed because I a) expected it and b) knew which item had caused the alarm to go off.  See, under the stress of “Please remove your item from the bagging area” I slid the portable cd player across the counter multiple times trying to make sure it was deactivated, knowing it probably wasn’t going to happen.

SO that was cleared up as well (it’s nice knowing you’re not at fault for an alarm that terrifying and embarrassing!) and I step outside to find it…..snowing. Of course it would be!  It wasn’t terrible snow, but it’s very annoying loading and unloading groceries in that sloppy mess.  Now, while unloading grocery bags into my car I was also desperatley searching for my check card.  Where did it go?  What did I do with it last! PURSE! Floor?  Counter at home?  ATM?  On the ground outside at the bank?  Oil change….deposits…..WHAT DID I DO WITH IT?!?! I was unsuccessful in finding it on my car and in a hurry to get home as there were three possibilities it could be located: on the ground at the bank from when I used the ATM; on my kitchen counter at home, or (what I feared) stuck in the $20s that I used to pay rent, which is in an envelope in my landlords apartment, of whom are usually gone for the weekend!

In my hurry to get home I was stopped by….not a Bridge (that would have been better)…but a train! I sighed and swore at the train and at the town next to mine (where all my difficulties were occurring).  I was so fed up with the last 45 minutes that just occurred.  See, I was in a hurry because the banks close and if my landlords did head out of town, maybe they weren’t too far out or hadn’t left.

The first thing I did before unloading the groceries when I got home was check my kitchen counter which…HAD MY CHECK CARD !!!!!!!! I was so beyond relieved!  The stress of the last hour did not melt away, but the feeling of being helpless and feeling stupid for having ‘lost’ my check card in a 20 minute time frame had left me body and my life, as we know it, felt back to normal again. I would like to say I woke up from that terrible dream, but unfortunately it was no dream!

I literally felt like that whole experience was like a Twilight Zone moment!

My favorie FRIENDS scenes

So, I never grew up on FRIENDS.  I’m not sure where I was when FRIENDS was on…probably Everwood or 7th Heaven…but I’ve watched seasons 1-5 on DVD and caught up on youtube with the rest of the seasons.  I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!   I love each and every character, EVERYTHING about it.  I still don’t own the seasons or anything…but GOD…this is when tv HUMOR was at it’s finest!  It is so close to life, love, humor, and everyday situations.  I think everyday life is just as funny as this show, just that we don’t let loose and live it to it’s fullest My favorite characters are as follows: (female) Rachel, Monica, Phoebe (Male) Ross, Chandler, Joey.  Love them all together too!  Here are some of my favorite scenes!!!! (in no particular order):

*These links in no way shape or form belong to me.  Everyone on youtube says that and I feel like I should too…just in case!*

This clip made me fall in love with the series when I had only seen seasons 1-5 religiously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbYpbdHCqUI

Rachel can’t find Joey:

The Couch Blooper Scene: (my all time favorite!)

The Couch Actual Scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJYH4lO6Bug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5Y6wrKS5k

The one with the Cheesecake (or something like that!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98KZNd03l4U

I hope this is how I have a break up, haha!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsvsRZhNVp4

and to be told I’m loved by that special someone wouldn’t be so bad in this way either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb3TdbQVP5A

Reasons why friends shouldn’t date each other:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYfbVHTc0to

To be these types of parents! haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erQ2KvNUDRs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j2beHtZlqM

I love this scene, it’s so precious!  Jennifer Anniston is the best on-screen, real-life crier EVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upnfi2L4BKo

Ok so everyone knows that Rachel’s pregnant exccept for Ross.  But they don’t know who the father is.  Until Joey says “Hey, she had a dude over here, who left this” which happens to be…the red sweater.  (brief overview)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwBSVLTJET4

 

…more to come!

And of course…Minnesota Twins Territory Commercials :)

I love the Twins!  I think they are one of the most humble teams in the MLB! I love how their commercials key in on the things we love about our team

How can you go wrong with this one?

I love Tom Kelley’s line in this one!

These two are super cute!  And that’s actually Joe Mauer’s Mom!

And this is a classic too!

 

Ok…Awake and Bored…

If you have followed me on facebook before the deletion, you may know that I’m a HUGE United States of America National Anthem fan!  It is one of my favorite things to watch on youtube and each one I watch brings such a different emotional reaction to it (usually always tears of some sort).  So I thought I’d post my favorite links and why.  First of all, I just love the lyrics of the National Anthem.  Our country  has proven that not only will we fight to protect ourselves but others as well when it comes down to freedom.  Especially in light of 9/11 and all the people in the military I know…it just makes me so proud to be an American and how we respond to the anthem!

• This first one is my ABSOLUTE favorite because of it’s simplicity.  The fact that it’s purely military choir/trumpets/drums and acapella gives me chills EVERY time.  I absolutely love the reactions of the NFL players and fans.  The most epic part of the song, for me, is after the planes fly and they are singing “…and the home…” because it all just sounds so AWESOME!  I can’t believe how their voices can carry over all that noise!  It really puts the perspective of our country’s past with war and current freedom and the love of sports all together. I also love how EVERY time crowds yell at “Rockets red glare” and “Banner yet wave.’  (I told you I am obsessed!)

• I absolutely love this one by the Cactus Cuties because I’m HUGE on harmonies and acapella work.  These little girls are so adorable and the fact you could hear a pin drop just adds to their performance.  I will post two videos, the first one they are young at a basketball game; the second they are older at a Dallas Cowboy’s football game.  I get chills with this one every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMf8o47Q_g  (basketball game) ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dROtmQVYcQg (football game)

• This next one is by Carrie Underwood at a baseball game.  This is another very simple version, but she does it flawlessly.  I also think the crowd starts singing towards the end, which is another sports favorite of mine   Plus the fact that her voice can carry over the fireworks is pretty awesome.

• This next one is by Kelly Clarkson.  I’ve always been a fan of her music and I think her voice is beautiful but strong at the same time.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzh0FcDVBCA
• This version is by Destiny’s Child and while I don’t like much change to the original version, this one is very powerful!  It brings soul to the song, if you ask me!

Now, these next few ones are more for crowd involvement pride for me than the song!  It is just absolutely incredible!

• This first one is during the war in ’91 and you can definitely tell by the cheers and signs…I guess this was aired to the troops overseas!  How awesome!  I get chills and want to just….yell and scream or something of pride

• I just love this one for rivalry’s sake…apparently Montreal had booed our National Anthem at the end of their game (which I’m assuming was held in Canada?) and this is how Boston responded when they played in the States

That’s about all I can think of for right now.  I am such a dork, I know, but I just love sports and our country–the two together is an amazing thing!  Jacked up sports fans proud of our country….LOVE it!

Tracy

 

Walking in a Winter Wonderland…

I truly believe this song can be played at anytime during the winter.  I worked from 7a-3p and when I got home I was so happy to see the snow falling.  Normally snow falling means crappy roads, but this time it was falling so peacefully in the big, fluffy flakes that I couldn’t help but be happy about it.  Life around the snow was just peaceful and quiet.  As it was turning dusk I kept my room dark, laid down facing my windows and watched the snow fall; I fell asleep to the view.  It was a very serene experience.

It’s stopped snowing now and I ended up napping for longer than I wanted, but that’s nothing unusual.  I’m usually like this when I get on a set of 7am-3pm shifts after working most winter 3-11p and 11p-7am shifts; it can be related to jet lag.  The weird thing is I’m wide awake while at work, but I think it’s what my mind and body does to make the shift less sucky.  Nothing sucks more than dealing with hotel guests while tired and/or hungover.  It just makes the day 10x worse.  I also find that if I don’t sleep well the night before I will end up napping the necessary hours to complete the intended 8 hour sleep cycle (i.e. if I slept 5 hours and work 7a-3p I will take a 3 hour nap after).  I’ve tested this each time I’ve napped; I don’t set an alarm because mine is already set for 5am.  While I realize the napping does not encourage a healthy sleep cycle, I just can’t figure out how to remain as wide awake as I feel at work when I’m at home!

Which brings me to my next point that I’m super excited for school to start….I am so bored after work!  A girl can only clean so much!  And spend so much money!  Bring on the books!

Well…off to find something random to occupy my time now that I’m WIDE awake.  Hmm….

Day 13 Without Facebook

Hello all!  Can you believe tomorrow marks the two-week time frame of non-logging in action for facebook to officialy delete my account?  It feels good!  It is interesting when I see other people on their facebook.  I have also been googling “I deleted my facebook” and reading other people’s blogs about the subject matter.  I find others have deleted their accounts for the same reason as I.  Now the true testiment will be when Spring Semester at UWS starts up because you see EVERYONE on facebook there or here “do you have a facebook?” 

Life without facebook, cable, and school (winter break) gives me so much time to think.  Sometimes its good and sometimes its bad.  I appreciate the ‘me’ time and other times it drives me stir crazy!  I have researched cable and internet prices (yes the cable bug is still biting) but decided it is totally not worth it.  First of all most of the shows I watch on TV are re runs and the current shows ON tv are ones I can watch online.  However for a faster internet speed (I’m sharing with my neighbors) all to myself it would cost $44.50 + tax for 6 months, to which it raises $10.00 after the 6 months…which makes it $54.50.  While most would deem internet service worth it, I think I’d rather spend that money on coffee at the coffee shop or gas to campus.  I think the best option, for now, is to start paying my neighbors $20.00/month for using their internet service, because the guilt is starting to get to me!  And I think I might invest in Netflix streaming to my computer.  I started watching Weeds at the farm and only watched the first season.  Plus it would be easier access to my favorite re-runs and series shows

Midway through my “Acting General Manager” week was stressful.  Sure as shit we were inspected by Best Western.  It wouldn’t be such a big deal except the inspectors are ridiculously picky at what they doc us for.  And I can understand why they are and why a guest would want the room to be cleaned to inspection status.  However, people hardly ever realize how long it would take to clean the room to that status.  Usually by the time guests arrive they are so antsy/rude about getting into their room (even if it’s two-three hours before check in) they don’t want to wait the 15-20 minutes it generally takes to clean it.  The reason I bring it up is because the general manager from the Bridgeview and I went through 26-some odd beds and that task alone took us from 11a-6pm.  Thank GOD (literally) for our housekeepers because they concentrated on other room ammenities to clean, otherwise we would have been there all night.  I was actually at work the day before the inspection from 7am-10p because I first covered the front desk.  I could have left by 8:30pm, but there were some maintenance issues I wanted to take care of then and not hours before the inspection.  I had strict instructions to not call my GM while he was on vacation; I respected his wishes and didn’t call.  Once the other GM from the Bridgeview gave me starting tips I felt confident about the proceedure.  Someone ended up calling my GM, but it was good to talk to him because he told me the ropes of inspection.  I think we ended up doing good on the inspection; I didn’t have to stay for it so I’m not sure what was docked.  If my instincts are right I have a feeling it is more maintenance items than anything (which we are constantly improving).  The thing that is hard about our property is it was built 50 years ago, so the updates are quite costly.  No matter what the frustrations this property causes me, it does have a special place in my heart (cheezy, I know) and I always look forward to change for it!  So Carpe Diem, Best Western Downtown Motel!  LOL.  Anyways, moving on!

So with all this thinking time I keep coming up with funny ‘themes’ to write about but never do it.  So the first one I’d like to start with is:

Reasons why I LOVE Living By Myself.

-I can sleep however/whenever I want.  Honestly.  Who’s to stop me?  I can also sleep in whateveer I want.  Which I don’t take advantage of due to the fear of being broken in…if I get too warm I stick with shorts and a tank top.  I don’t want some rapist breaking it in and making it easier for him! 

-I have FAR too much time to think, but it gives me the time to explore my brain!  I sometimes feel like I live a double life…the me that’s out in the public and the me that’s in my apartment, alone. 

-You can leave the dishes out however long you want.  For me, it’s usually not long because I can’t stand gross smells or gross looking dishes! 

-You can clean however often you want.  I don’t have much company, so I’m not too concerned about ‘perfection’ cleanliness.  Yet cleaning is in my bones and I’m usually bored, so I clean quite often.  Bet you’ll never see a cleaner apartment for someone who has hardly any company!

-You can use whatever room you want for whatever purpose.  It’s true.  My living room is now my bedroom.  It’s the biggest room in the apartment, gets the most light, and has a view of Lake Superior.  I’ve often thought of converting it to the living room again; it’s my favorite room in the house so I’m in it all the time, but that also means I’m sitting/laying on my bed all the time, which only encourages sleep and laziness   My guest room has my scrapbook stuff scattered all over, which I am stoked that I can leave it out!  My old roommate’s bedroom is my living room.  My two hall closets are my closets!  I use one for work/going out clothes and the other for sweatshirts and t-shirts! 

-When my neighbors are gone, my music is up and my whole apartment is a dance party!  I shut my curtains and go nuts!  It’s really fun and a great stress releiver!  You don’t have to worry about what you look like and I’ve found as time goes on I’m getting more courage to dance at the bars.  But I mostly love it because when I’m listening to music/dancing my brain shuts off and doesn’t think about anything! 

-Less money is spent on groceries and toiletries.  I am still surprised at how much money I can get away with NOT spending on those items.  I can have groceries for 2-3 + weeks and STILL not have gone shopping!  Toilet Paper still seems to go faster, but I think that’s just how it has to be.  The most I’ve spent on groceries/toiletrees/cleaning supplies at one time is about $150.00 because at that time I’m WAY out.  Sounds like a lot of money at one pop, but then I’m good on everything until the next month or so. 

-Self Confidence grows.  I do still have my insecurities, but the more time I spend doing things I love without having to defend myself, the more proud and happy I feel on the inside.  I know if I’m stressed out at work and school I’ll be able to come back and veg however I want  (whether it’s hours of youtubing anything and everything or napping the night away…).  I can’t describe why or how my self confidence has grown by living alone, but it just has. 

-You can bring back whomever you want…and I think we all know what I mean by that

-My most favorite part is the room decoration is all your own, whatever style you want.  I am so happy with my room decorations and love shopping at Good Will for more!  I have posters and pictures in my kitchen, actual “paintings/pictures” in my room, vhs covers on my living room wall.  The most I want to shine through my decor is my personality and I think I have achieved that. 

Well, that’s about all I’ve got for right now.  If I’m bored enough later I might be writing again.  I’ve been watching Dawson’s Creek, which is fun.  I used to be the type who couldn’t miss a single second of an episode, but now I totally fast forward the SUPER cheezy parts (though well acted) to my favorite parts.  Sometimes some parts of the show are just too hard for me to watch because they’re so sad…so I just skip to the part where everyone fells better, lol.  I can’t watch those sad parts if I’m in “that” mood (usually it’s the contemplative about life mood).  If I get Netflix, I’m pretty sure Weeds will be the next show to watch!

Have a great day, thanks for checkin’ this out, boring as it may be!

Tracy

Day 10 Without Facebook

Hello All!  I am back from a few wonderful days off!  Check out my posts prior to this one…I had a HILARIOUS situation happen!  Funny enough that it deserved it’s own blog!

I am partially avoiding a work task.  It’s going into a website and entering our occupancy #s from the last month.  It’s rather tedious and I don’ t have a good attention span for that type of detailed work.  It’s only my second time doing the task, so I want to be sure I’m ready to pay attention when I start!

I’m happy to say that I am in my third time “Acting General Manager” role while my General Manager is on vacation.  I say 3rd time because this time is dead serious about not being called for anything–not even an inspection! (*Gulp*…pray we don’t get that!) So far it’s been going really good, except my whole “Being late into my shift because my keys were locked in a friend’s house of which the friend was gone” scenario…which you can read about in my last few blogs).  What a way to start out as an acting GM huh?  I’m happy to be back on morning shifts, though.  It is a HUGE difference working in the daylight (if you can really call it ‘light’ in Minnesota winter, lol).  I had to work a back to back (I worked 3p-11p last night and 7a this morning) but I relaxed so much during my days off it wasn’t a big deal.   I’m working longer than planned today to help out an employee, but it’s okay because my 3 days off will probably affect my next paycheck; I will try to have my cake and eat it too!

Lately at work, without facebook, I have been re-vamping forms the hotel has used that haven’t been revamped since the 80′s.  Classic typewriter style with wording that problably wouldn’t flow these days.  For instance, a contract parking warning sign read “The Management” at the end instead of “Best Western Management.”  While “The Management” sounds much more stealthy and intimidating, it also makes us sound like we are trying to be too cool.  Add in some sweet fonts, page borders, and print it out on BW paper and VUALA!  Fancy, updated forms   I also got to go through our Contract Parking Ledger which, on the dorky side, makes me extremely happy because the majority of the dang thing was people who haven’t parked here for at least 3 years!  Amazing how much organization and re-vamping hotel properties can use…especially those that love paperwork!  And that is something most don’t know about me, I LOVE to re-organize and make things better!  I can’t do it at home as much because it takes decorations, time, and money, so the office is the perfect place for it!

I had spent my days off at a farm which hardly got cell phone service and the only thing I needed my friend’s computer for was to check my bank account.  I saw my friend on her facebook on her phone and honestly I did not miss it that much!  It is nice to have one less thing to be “dependent” on.  Sometimes when I come home from work I want nothing more than to hop on facebook, but then wonder “Why?!” Honestly.  When you’re on facebook, what is the point?  People often say “To keep in contact with everyone!”  But I have been keeping up with my friends and families the same amount as when I was on facebook, without facebook.  I don’t spend hours stalking people’s lives that I will never be a part of and I now don’t find myself wishing my life could be like some that I see.  It’s very rewarding, actually, to be one of the few of us who have given facebook the boot.  It’s not like smoking or drinking habits, where you just need to have one more…it’s more like feeling the urge to check it, realizing you can’t, and moving on.  But then again, as I’ve said, I’ve been debating about it for a long time and now that I have done it I don’t mind at all.

My current debate is if I should get my own internet service.  I’ve been using my neighbor’s ever since I moved in, which I’m extremely thankful that they’ve let me.  But I also feel very selfish by doing that, plus the connection is not always there when I want it the most.  It’s actually whenever I want to bum around online or watch my shows so it’s ended up helping me because I do other things, but without cable AND internet life is *REALLY* quiet, even finding your own things to do to keep occupied.  But then my debate is that I want to watch my shows online with the internet service.  And the itch for  cable tv is coming back.  It usually does most winters and I try to stay busy enough during the summer to not need it.  But then I realize the shows I’d watch on tv I can get online, but I’m trying to move away from constant online use besides e-mail, blogging, and school research;  the few shows I do keep up with (One Tree Hill on the CW, Grey’s Anatomy sometimes, and One Life to Live on Youtube).  Because I don’t have cable I can’t tape them and watch them later so I watch them online, but if I get cable I can have the opportunity to tape them and might not need the internet service as badly (getting my own connection would provide a stronger one).  Can you see my dilemma?  There are PLENTY of movies I haven’t seen and could watch, but it’s hard to get me to sit down and watch a movie.  I’m much more of a TV watcher.  But then I know during Spring Semester I won’t have a whole lot of time because of the homework load…then come summer I definitely don’t want to be inside.  But dang it, it really SUCKS when you just want to flip channels and relax!  I go back and forth with being okay without cable…usually I like not having it.  Then again it could be just winter.  ANYway.

So yeah…life without facebook is going just fine.  I heard it is being deleted in March?

I thought I had more to write but I’m all typed out now.  I should get back to my work task anyways.  Thanks for reading, if you do!

Tracy

Never Give RandiSu and Tracy Housekeys…Part 2

RandiSu didn’t get pulled over for anything except her license plate wasn’t hanging from the holder, which was getting fixed.  However, the pulling-over/talking to the cop process was quite stressful at the time but comical upon reminiscing.  Her phone was on the fritz, which meant her Pandora Music Player decides to bump the tunes whenever it wants.  Which it happened to play as the cop started to talk to RandiSu.  I was panicking because I did not want the cop to think we were psychos, plus RandiSu was frustrated while telling me to try to get it to stop.  It wouldn’t stop playing; I pulled the battery out.  RandiSu, very clearly frustrated, asked me why I did that.  I thought that’s what I was supposed to do, however in this situation we didn’t have her friend’s address yet.  Forget the fact the cop was standing right there during this fiasco of us ‘talking’ with each other!  The cop takes forever in his car with RandiSu’s license, which for a moment we panicked because we at first though she gave him mine.  Awesome, way to add to our already interesting scenario with the cop and our mental stress.  We were thankful to see my ID in her hand.  You see, she had my ID from when I tried to break into the house (I didn’t want to lose my ID or check card in the snow).  While we were pulled over I was trying to text different co-workers to try and get someone to cover some of my shift as I know I will not be in Duluth in time since my car keys were in the locked house. In the meantime I found out this also is my official “Acting General Manager gig” as my GM is on vacation and “Tracy, you are charge, do not call me for anything!”  But I didn’t feel right texting or calling while the cop was in the process of maybe giving a ticket.  Which made me more frustrated because it was already 11:30pm and I had to work at 3pm the next day, which didn’t leave me much time to get things figured out that night!

The cop came back with a written warning for RandiSu (that didn’t go on her record).  He was a very generous cop and asked if we knew where we were headed yet.  We received the address but told him we didn’t know quite where it was.  When the cop asked who we were staying with RandiSu said the name of her friend, which made this part of the evening feel like a 1950’s family-friendly movie.  The cop says “Oh, so-and so?”  “Yeah!  That’s him!” “Oh, well I can take you there, not a problem, just follow me!”  RandiSu rolled her window up and we breathed a sigh of relief, almost giggly from the stress.  Well, I should rephrase that I was giggling because we were getting a police escort to RandiSu’s friend’s house to most likely partake in our drinking activities.  (The other ironic moment of the night was I had always wanted some sort of police escort!  I have no idea why, I’m just weird like that!)  We follow the cop, to which I was sure to remind RandiSu to use her blinkers and make complete stops at the stop signs, also stopping in enough time as to not slide into the cop.  (She of course was well aware of these things, but I had to add to the hilarity of the situation).  The cop was even nice enough to get out of his car and point out which house her friend was at.  In a big city this would be translated as “Hm, it is maybe not good the cop knows exactly where you live,” but in a small town such as Blackduck it’s more like “Oh yeah, I know that cop from such-and-such and he’s a really good guy.”  I was relieved to finally be at a destination and some sort of clarity moment during the crazy night!

We met RandiSu’s friend and we all enjoyed some brewskis together as we relieved the last few stressful hours of the night, while sharing different shenanigans of our lives. I was extremely thankful to RandiSu’s friends (both in Kelleher and Blackduck) for their generosity.  While there are always solutions to a situation such as ours, it is scary thinking of the what ifs.  ‘What if we didn’t have cell phone service?’ ‘What if we didn’t have gas in our cars?’ ‘What if we forgot our phone and keys in the house, momentarily stepping out?’  It really put into perspective how necessary and important having a home is and not only that, but what is in our homes that we use on a daily basis!

Oh, I was able to make it to Duluth by 5pm only a few hours into my shift.  My epic co-worker Sue was able to stay later for me, which was incredibly awesome of her, especially considering she has a fractured rib received over the weekend.  I apologized to Eric about his now-broken window screen; I especially felt bad because the break-in attempt was failed.  But he was fine about it.  At least I will leave him with an interesting way to remember me: “Oh yeah, you are RandiSu’s friend, the one who broke my window screen at a failed break-in attempt when you guys locked my spare house key in my house…”

…And that is the rest of the story!  Good Day!

 

Never Give RandiSu & Tracy Housekeys…Part 1

To start off this story of true events, I would like to use a quote said by Paul Harvey, which is very fitting for the events of which RandiSu and I experienced.  He says: ““If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then 9 times out of ten it will.”  And that it did, that…it…did.

I am very happy to report that I am back in Duluth, not locked out of someone else’s house in the middle of nowhere!  Wow, what a weekend I just had!  It was most definitely fun, but the craziest situation happened my last night in Kelleher!  Kelleher is a very small town—you blink and you miss it—about three hours from Duluth.  Mostly farmers occupy the town with fishermen, snowmobilers, and hunters passing through.  Townsfolk have the Minnesota accent “Ya sure ya betcha / oh ya don’t ya know,” and know everybody.  Everything about this story is epic…so epic it is going to be told in part 1 and 2 blogging style!  Believe it or not it did not take me long to write this and unfortunately it is not an over dramatization!

I had three absolutely glorious days off from work.  I could not stay in Duluth wasting them away; RandiSu invited me to her friend Eric’s farmhouse for a weekend of smores, drinking, relaxing, drinking, relaxing, and more drinking.  Duluth departure time was around midnight on Wednesday.  Roads were not in the most favorable condition, which made the 3 hour drive seem much longer.  I arrived to the country roads but from there Eric was gracious enough to give me directions at 4am.  The funniest part was “What road signs do you see?” Me: “Um, well, none!  Wait…I am seeing a ‘Bump’ road sign!  Oh, wait…nope, it’s ‘Scattered Bumps!’  I made it to my destination, where Eric and I bonded over 4am beers and attempting sleep around 7am.  (RandiSu was attempting sleep on the couch, but due to our chatter she moved to the room.)

We three enjoyed days of relaxing, sleeping, and drinking, and spent our nights at the Muni, Kelleher’s Municipal Liquor store and bar.  It’s a cash-only bar, the only bar, with an ATM.  Keep in mind the only other atm is inside the gas station across the street.

Saturday night, my last night at the farm house, RandiSu and I decided to head to the Muni being as we relaxed all day (I have never watched so much Comedy Central!).  The home owner, Eric, was gracious enough to leave his spare key for us as he was in Bemidji for the night.  We gathered our check cards, IDs, and started to head out… as soon as we shut the door we both stopped dead in our tracks.  A very familiar four letter word escaped our mouths….to keep this blog PG we will refer to this word in A Christmas Story Style…”F dash dash dash!”

I immediately tried the door and sure enough, it was locked.  The key?  Inside RandiSu’s purse, on the counter, in the house.  We were going to bring purses, but decided to simplify our lives by just carrying what we thought were our necessities.  (Heavy sarcasm on simplify due to the irony).  We had come up with three different options.   1)  We call Eric, see if there’s any way to break in.  2) We call our contacts in Kelleher to see if we can stay with them for the night/contact Blackduck friends and last resort head to Bemidji (a 60 mile drive just to drive back in the morning).  3) Call the county sheriff and see if he or she a) knows Eric and b) would be willing to break us back in.  We had tried to call Eric, who wasn’t answering at the time, so after some debate and a few frustrated tears (mind you we were in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold) we decided to head to the Muni because we have nothing else to do at this point.

Upon arriving at the Muni I remembered the cash-only policy, heading to the ATM with determination only to be extremely disappointed.  ATM SERVICE TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER.  The  infamous word of the night “F dash dash dash” was on the tip of my tongue to be repeated, but all that came out was “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”  It was 10p, I desperately looked to see if the gas station was open, which lights were still on.  The ever-so-gracious bar tender tried calling the station to see if they’d stay open so I could use their ATM, but of course they would not.  (Forget the fact the ATM use would help their small town’s economy).  And if you thought “This town must not have any other outdoor ATMs,” you are very correct.

By this time Eric had contacted us with a way to break in.  This break-in involved me balancing between a very tiny, snowy and icy deck rail with one foot and on a snowy and icy well-house roof, of which we had to shovel snow off.  Keep mind there is nothing solid to grip; the ledge of the house was snowy and icy as well.  I felt like James Bond’s female Minnesotan counterpart.  It was also debatable how stretchy I could be considering how cold it was outside.  It took some mental strength to make the lunge, but I did it; it felt like I was stretching for track!  As we all know it is usually an easy task to jimmy windows.  However, during temperatures of below zero and all the other fun weather Minnesota Winters have to offer, a person forgets how stubborn a window is when trying to say…move it!  I tried and tried, but was unsuccessful in my Minnesotan Bond style break-in.  My fingers were so cold I could not tell if I was gripping the window and yes, I was wearing my gloves!  The scarier part was trying to get back onto the deck.  Having a well roof, while snowy and icy, is much easier to balance on than a stick-thin, snowy and icy rail.  With RandiSu’s help I made it back to the deck safely.  This break in attempt was scarier than my apartment attempt, which is crazy because my apartment attempt was much higher with much less room to work with (about a foot’s width of shingles to balance on).

RandiSu does have contacts in Kelleher that we could have stayed with, but we also wanted to partake in drinking activities. Our failed break in attempt, the dire situation, and my last night there heavily influenced the desired activity.  Blackduck is about 20 miles away from Kelleher and Bemidji is 60 miles in the same direction.  By the time we contacted her Kelleher contact they were just as far away as Blackduck except on the opposite side of Kelleher.  RandiSu has contacts in Blackduck, but it took some time to find their number.  So we were on our way to Blackduck with Bemidji as a backup plan.  We get to Blackduck and pulled over to wait for the address to be sent via text message.  We see flashing lights of blue and red behind us, to which multiple “F dash dash dashes” were said.  Yes, we were pulled over.