stretching

Open Says Me!

If I could go back in time to when I was, oh, let’s say under 16, I would tell that me to stretch. And to be serious about it because in 10 years, you’re really going to want more flexibility when you start learning the flying trapeze. If I could go back to when I was about 26, I’d again tell myself to stretch and stick with it because 26 isn’t too late to start and it would be really helpful with this flying trapeze stuff, and in about 10 years, you’re really going to want more flexibility when you take up pole dancing. And if I could go back to when I was about 36, I’d give myself the same damn lecture about how 36 isn’t too late and you can still be flexible if you just commit to working on it! Now, at 40, I’m looking back and kicking myself because if at any of those times, I had just stuck with it, I would be so much better off now! But alas, my name is not Stewart Gilligan Griffin and I do not have a time machine. As such, I am left with stretching to the best of my ability and attempting to foam roll the scar tissue that’s built up around my hips. I need to get it Graston-ed out, but I’m not interested in another trip to the crazy hip doctor that just wants to cut me open. Oh well. More foam roller!

Sidebar: I’m standing in the kitchen looking at the sunrise through the blinds. It’s so crazy red out there! I’d take a picture but it just wouldn’t do this sunrise justice.

Now that I’m a boss, of sorts, I will make this promise: I will never be ambiguous about calling meetings. I know that I’ve hated when a manager scheduled a meeting with no inkling as to why. It’s a natural human reaction to be concerned that you’ve done something wrong. I promise to not leave people hanging, and if you did do something wrong, I’m going to let you know up front that is going to be the topic of conversation. No hiding shit for me.

Work is pretty much a madhouse, which means I am falling behind with my PHP learning. I see now that I am going to have to designate more time at home to learning. Blah! I do still need to remember, however, that we are only halfway through January and there are 11 more months in the year still. I want to finish PHP and SharePoint by December 31. Reasonable goals. And so, I’m off to achieve! How are you doing with your January/2014 goals?

Most Depressing Week of the Year?

Seriously? This is what I saw on the news yesterday or the day before. I was only half-listening, so I’m going to go ahead and assume that they were saying that the first full work week of the year is the most depressing. Personally, I’d be hard pressed to try to figure out the most depressing week of the year for me because: a) they just all run together anyways, and b) my life is pretty decent.

I suppose I can understand not wanting to get back on the 5 days a week schedule, but since I had to work in the timeframe between Christmas and the New Year, back to work isn’t as big of a deal for me. Now, had they said that this week felt like the longest week of the year, I’d be first in line to jump on *that* bandwagon because somehow, IT’S ONLY WEDNESDAY!! Argh. Let’s just get to Friday so I can go snowboarding, ok?

Technically, snowboarding is on Saturday, and hopefully I’ll be moving around a little better by then. As per the norm after I start working out at a decent clip after a time off, I’m currently walking around like I got kicked down a flight of stairs. Not like I fell down a flight of stairs on a cruise ship, but like I got kicked at the top, kicked down the stairs, and kicked again at the bottom. I absolutely love the side eyes I get when I try to get up from my desk and get to the bathroom. I’m hoping that by this time next week, I’ll be back in the groove of things and back to my normal, patented (not really), Burkes walk. That’s what my Gram called it. Said she would know from afar if it was me just by the way I walk. Distinct is fun.

Fortunately, in the workout rotation, today was yoga. In 30 minutes. Which makes it a little tough, but still well on my side of being able to complete it. And because that 30 minutes couldn’t be nearly enough torture for one morning, I followed it up with a 45 minute stretching routine because, well, I’m partially off my rocker, but more so, I’m interested in being a bit more flexy. As I well know, strength alone does not an aerialist make. So I stretch and I stretch and I ache and I ache because my hips are absolute jerks, but one day, I will reach my goal of general flexiness. Flexiness by the standards of aerial/pole, not by the standards of general medicine these days. My chiropractor said that my current flexibility was way beyond the “normal” range because, get this, when laying on my back, I can bring either leg past 90 degrees. Ninety. Degrees. That makes flexibility?!?! Where the hell are we going as a society except straight down the crapper? So sad.

You know, today’s writing prompt is actually a pretty good one. I think I’ll write it up as a separate post…or I’ll save it for a day when there’s really just nothing going on. You’ll just have to tune in to find out.

 

Soul Sellers

Welcome to the first Monday of 2014! The day in which NYRs really start. The day where we “really” start putting our best foot forward. The day in which I sell my soul. Yep, welcome to pseudo-management. But work, who wants to talk about that? Not me.

Up at 5 this morning, per the plan. First day of P90X3 went pretty well. To only be a half hour, I was surprised to have still broken a sweat. I don’t know what I was expecting. I mean, it is still a P90X product. Not as holy hell difficult as the first one, but hopefully I’ll still see results out of it. Followed that up with a little stretching for splits. I keep saying that I want to get these damned splits, but then I keep not stretching. 1 plus 1 does not equal splits here. But if I can stick with this plan for a while (and I should be able to), perhaps in a few months, I’ll be closer to getting there than I am now.

Right split Left split

There’s the starting point. Pretty much the same place it’s been forever. *sigh* Time to get flat. (but not ass and titties…ass and titties).

The morning routine will be deemed a success. 5am isn’t so much worse than 5:30, especially when my body says “hey, wake up!” anyway. More years, less sleep. The fun never ends.

Fun week ahead! The morning routine continues, Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday, FabPole on Wednesday. Snowboarding on Saturday. Good times.

Well, the time is rapidly approaching for me to go shake hands and sign for my soul on the dotted line. I can do this. I can do anything! Have a great day.

Happy New Year 2014

Well, here we are. Most of us, anyway. Those of us who were lucky enough to make it out of 2013 and into 2014. This is, of course, the day of resolutions and such. I’m gonna go to the gym, I’m gonna eat better, blah, blah, blah. We all hear these same things every year, whether it be out of our own mouths or out of the mouths of others. As such, once again, I’m not making “New Year’s Resolutions” per se. There are a couple of things that I’d like to accomplish this year, but I’m not going to beat myself up about them if I don’t. So here they are, my non NYRs:

  • I’m going to attempt to have ZERO zero-word days on the blog. Typically, this is pretty tough because I don’t always have something to talk about. Remedy for this? The Daily Post provided an ebook that has 365 writing prompts so I’ll always have something to talk about. Formatting could change, but I will likely start off daily with the provided topic then continue on with my rambling if there’s rambling for the day.
  • As perhaps you know, I’m a Beachbody junkie (P90X, P90X2, Hip Hop Abs, Insanity) and I just got P90X3 and T25. Just because I don’t like to start programs in the middle of the week, I’ll be starting P90X3 on Monday. If I can stick with it (I know I can, lol), I will do each program twice this year and I will look phenomenal at the end of the year.
  • I’ve got to do some more stretching. I am, after all, not getting any younger. And it also goes along with…
  • Really focus on getting good at something this year. I haven’t yet decided what the thing will be. Pole? FabPole? Fabric? (not likely…makes my hips scream after every drop) Dance trap? I don’t know. One of those. One of something else. Something.
  • I may also work on something professionally. You’d think those priorities would be the other way around. But I’ve always been ass-backwards. SharePoint anyone?
  • Read! I want to read more. Perhaps I’ll actually use my GoodReads account this year? I read a lot of crappy books this year, I just didn’t put them in there. I need to expand my book horizons.

I’m sure that I don’t need to put any more unnecessary pressure on myself here.  So with that, let’s talk about today’s writing prompt: Stroke of Midnight – Where were you last night when 2013 turned into 2014? Is that where you’d wanted to be?

This one is easy. Boring, but easy. I was watching the oh, so interesting movie that was showing on the backs of my eyelids from the comfort of my pillowtop bed and Sleep Number pillow. New Year’s Eve hasn’t been a big deal for me almost ever. I can remember two specific times when I went out to a party. One was the suck and one was hysterical. However, I’m not interested in having drinks spilled on me or coming home smelling like a dirty ashtray. I’m also not interested in DUI checkpoints and the people who escape them and cause crashes. As such, I was safe, comfortable, and 2014 looked the same at 8am as it did at 12:01am, I’m sure.

Let’s see how long it takes me to fall off the wagon. It isn’t pessimism. I know me. Have for 40 years. Happy New Year to you and yours. I hope that 2014 brings you everything you’re looking for.

New Week, New Posts, & Some Realizations

Where does the time go?? I just recently asked how I could get five more hours in between about 5 and 10pm. Wouldn’t you enjoy that? More time to work out, more time to stretch, more time to pole dance? Of course you want that! Make it happen, science!

Last week was a blur. A lazy blur. But, I’m back on the wagon. Getting those workouts in (using Fitocracy..it’s like dog shaming but with exercise), trying to write (see? Here I am!), and just generally being a cooler me. In order to be that cooler me, I have to realize and accept that waiting until Sunday to do things is the same as saying, eff it, I’m not gonna do it. I could be queen of the procrastination club if I could make it to meetings…maybe next week.

Remember Second Saturdays? Where I go get a massage? A deep tissue massage? I did at least do that. I have a lovely bruise on my ass to show for it. Hopefully, as I continue to stretch, things will continue to loosen up and I won’t be putting myself through this torture of trying to break up 5 year old scar tissue for nothing. My desire for deep tissue massage, oddly enough, goes along with why I shouldn’t partner stretch. In partner stretching, I’ll just do my best to keep relaxing into whatever stretch my partner is pushing me into (except splits) which ultimately leads to me over-stretching and not being able to walk for a couple days. Massage is the same. The masseuse is in there just digging away with her elbows and I just do my best to breathe through it. She’s the first person who has even come close to making me want to wave the white flag. Did I let her go too far? Possibly. I think she might have moved a rib, but that’s why I have a chiropractor. After she was done and we were chatting, she told me that she was starting to wonder if I was still alive because most people would have been crying out in pain when she was as deep as she was.  Yeah, well. I’m tough. Or stupid. Take your pick.

I have another post coming shortly after this one all about pole, hooray!  You’ll need to be familiar with Star Trek and the Borg, so get on over to Wikipedia and start studying so you’re not left out!

Speaking of pole, someone needs to get on the ball. A mere 3.5 weeks until the showcase and I’ve knocked out a staggering 30 seconds of my personal routine. And I still have another 90 seconds of the group routine to choreograph. I must be crazy. Yep, that’s a definite. I think the rest of this week will just fly on by in its usual inconsiderate way. And speaking of which still, I’m out of time. Grrrr.  Have a great day!!

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