solar squirrel

I love that the days are getting longer and the birds are singing in the morning.  I am sooooo excited for this spring and summer - this will be the first time in several years that I can actually ENJOY the longer days and the nice weather.  (No more school + job I love = HAPPY AMIE)

I’ve slowly started getting back into a more regular workout routine.  This past week I managed to hit the gym (lame disgusting Bally’s) 2 times and get up to Mayfield for swimming with my pal Brian R. plus run with some of my great friends this am.  I think I did somewhere around 9 miles with them.  They ran more, but I decided that it was in my IT band’s best interest not to go any further.  It didn’t hurt - but I could tell that it still wasn’t quite right.  I wore my compression strap just to be safe.  I’m not sure how long I should continue to wear it.  I figure I’ll wear it anytime I do speed work or longer distances than I’m used to.  9 miles today was more than I’ve done in quite a while (at least several months).  It did feel good, though and I can definitely tell that I’m out of shape!  Running up the hill at N. Chagrin res. I could barely keep up with Laura - who by the way is several months PREGNANT!!!  Sheesh…talk about humbling.  But it’s all relative and I’m just SO THANKFUL that I have the ability to run…and walk…and breathe!

Tomorrow I’ll likely swim and then try for at least 2 days of running at Bally’s on the dreadmill.

Todd’s been spending almost all of his spare time working on our reef tank.  It has become so beautiful - its our own mini-ecosystem.  Today we got two more fish:  a Falco Hawkfish and a Firefish Goby.  I LOVE the Hawkfish - it is SOOOOOO cute!  Here is a picture that Todd took -

Falco Hawkfish

Firefish Goby

It’s really fun to watch them and see how they interact and change.  I think we’re up to about 25 different types of coral too - plus an anemone and mushrooms.

I’m excited for another blog I’m probably going to start, too.  It’s going to be a blog about different local (Akron and Cleveland area) restaurants and opinions on the food, atmosphere, service, vibe, etc.  Due to my incredible appetite and love of food I think this will be a really fun project.  It’s not going to just be me, though - there will be 3 other ladies involved in the project.  We all will add our own interpretation and area of expertise.  I’m still trying to narrow down the domain name and how we’re going to organize the blog, but hopefully it will come to fruition soon!

FINALLY!!!

I received a notification from the post office that I had a certified piece of mail from Case.  I went to the post office and picked up my ‘large envelope’ which contained my MBA diploma.  It seemed so informal to receive it like that…like - all my time, money, and effort and there I am picking up an envelope at the post office.

I’ll be going to the graduation ceremony in May as well which will be more ‘official’, but I had to mark the occasion with a photo.

Now it’s time to focus on my career and my fitness.  Look out 2010.

Quick update to brag about my incredible 2-days in a row of working out!  That’s how sad things have gotten - I’m proud of 2 days in a row…

I did ~ 6 miles with Bridget and the Fleet Feet group on Wednesday evening (I think I’ll start doing this on a regular basis) and then managed to drag myself away from work for a spin workout at lunch yesterday.  Then I was planning on a track workout after work but soon realized that the list of things that I needed to get done was getting larger instead of smaller so I decided against it.

My weekend will be spent in San Diego for work, but I’m hoping to be able to slip away in the evenings for some training.  I told Todd this am that I HAVE to get out to Westbranch ASAP so I can get in some mountain biking before the XTERRA.  I figure I’ll likely be in last place for the bike portion, but it would be nice not to die.

I was reminded yesterday that 2009 is half way over.  That’s kind of depressing considering I wanted 2009 to be my most fit year, but it’s not looking too good.  There is still time, though!!!

HUGE CONGRATS to E-Speed, Barb B. and Laura for their incredible times at the Flag Day 5k.  Those are some fast girls!!!  I knew they would all do well.

Off to get ready for work!

Quick post to say that I AM indeed still alive, just adjusting to my new job which btw is AWESOME!!!!  Can’t believe I am getting paid to learn the things I’m learning.

Today is 3 years since Todd and I went on our first date.

Todd and me

New post coming soon with updates!  Pretty much nothing new…just transitioning to a new job and getting back into working out and having time to spend with friends and family.

Well, we managed to make it back in one piece last night. Our luggage didn’t - but that’s ok. At least it was lost on the way back and not the way there.

Today was pretty relaxing. We went running for the first time in forever. We met Bridget and Steve at Boston Store and were planning on just winging it. The trails were a mess with mud and Bridget and I decided that we didn’t feel like running any more in the quicksand mud so we opted to only do Brandywine falls and then do the remaining miles on the towpath. I’m actually kind of glad we did that because it was really beautiful with the high river and the sky that kept changing from dark grey to blue and sunny. We did about 13 total and I didn’t really have much else in me. I felt kind of sore. Not necessarily tired, but sore. I guess it’s because I haven’t worked out for so long! Next week we’re supposed to do 24. I think I might die! We’ll see how it goes, though!

Had some lunch and then did some shopping since I haven’t spent Christmas with my family yet. It’s nice having all of the sales, but I don’t really have any money, so it’s basically just a teaser walking past all of the stores with tons of sale signs. I’m hoping that this next week will bring some new job prospects. I think it will!

I just wanted to write a quick post and say how thankful I am for all of the wonderful things in my life.

I am thankful for my FRIENDS

I am thankful for my FAMILY

I am thankful for my HEALTH

I am thankful for the ability to persue anything that I desire!

A wintery towpath

Winter leaves

I always wondered what people did when they got laid off - do they go home and change into pj’s and sit in front of the couch wallowing in sorrow and self doubt, eating whatever they can manage to find in the refrigerator.  I didn’t really know.  Today I found out.

I went in to work as usual, but somewhere waaaaay in the back of my mind, I had a very teeny tiny feeling that something might happen today - since we knew the lay off’s were coming and the rumor was that it was happening today.  Got into work, checked email, went to cafeteria to buy a milk since I used the last of my organic milk last week and hadn’t had time to buy any more.  On my way back from the caf. I decided to swing by the CT service group to see if they had heard anything.  Ugh.  My friend had already had a talk with HR.  He would be allowed to finish out the week. 

When I got back to my desk I received a phone call - it was from HR - they wanted me to go to an office.  Great.  I already knew what it was about - in the 6 years I’ve worked for Philips I have never had an interaction with HR with the exception of getting hired.  Now I was getting to see the other side of things.  I went into the office and my boss’s boss was in there along with the HR girl.  I started crying and asked them if I would be able to get reimbursed for school (I’m 20k in debt at the moment and was hoping to pay part of that off with my tuition reimbursement).  How funny that was the first thing I wanted to know - I didn’t even let them talk!  HR reasurred me that I would be eligible for tuition reimbursement for this semester (I looked over the docs. they gave me and indeed I am - phew!)  Then they went through and told me about some career services that they would be providing…something at a Hotel…resume writing…interview assistance…I wasn’t really paying attention.  I was just thinking - are you kidding me?  I am so loyal, so hard working, no work hour or travel restrictions, no family, young, enthusiastic, full of energy…yet I was the one that was picked?  What is wrong with these people?  Don’t they realize that there are people who work here that surf the web and look at porn?  That there are people that sleep at their desks when they think no one is around?  People that openly vocalize how much they hate their jobs and the company?  And yet I was the one who they decided was the best candidate to be laid off!?  Me - who praises the company - volunteers for EVERYTHING - welcomes a new project and works late trying to get up to speed on it - and NEVER openly puts down the organization even though some of the things they do are just outright RIDICULOUS…  Humph. 

So I take my little folder that they gave me that had a sticker with my name on it and my HR stuff that I wasn’t paying attention to that they went over with me.  I wondered back to my desk and told everyone.  My boss didn’t even know until this morning.  He was so nice.  Great guy.  Everyone was shocked and disappointed and sad.  I told them that I would go home for the rest of the day but I would be back tomorrow.  (I have until Friday to work ‘if I want’).  I was sending instant messages to people - asking them who was hit in their work area.  Quite a few of my friends - crazy!  I still don’t know everyone that was effected - I’ll find out tomorrow, I guess.  In total the number was supposedly 55. 

So I drove home.  I got my laptop and then headed for Todd’s house.  He had stayed home today because he wasn’t feeling well.  I immediately got to work.  I polished up my resume and had Todd review it.  Then I sent a few emails relating to some of my school projects and in between talked on the phone since word travels fast and people wanted to know what was going on.  I had lunch (it was actually leftovers that I forgot to take with me from Sunday).  Then Todd and I went for a walk in the park to look at the beautiful snow.

Now I’m waiting for dough to rise and I’m making some rolls. 

The day seemed to go by really fast now that I think about it.

So - if you know any company that has good values that is looking for someone to help them in their quest to be less of an impact on the world and more of a source for positive change - please - let them know about me. 

This Sunday was my Birthday, and we celebrated our 3rd annual Halloween and Birthday Bash - here’s a link to the web photo album!

Halloween 2008

http://picasaweb.google.com/AScarpitti/Halloween2008#

Here I am only a few days away from August and I have to wonder where the summer went? It seems like taking a summer class makes my summer go in fast-forward and before I know it the leaves are falling off of the trees and it’s dark at 5:00. The good news - I’ve been out of school for a little over a week and I’ve done something every night so far, so at least I am taking advantage of it. The bad news: my work project is still incomplete, so I may have to start working longer hours, although I’m not sure being clueless for 12 hours is any better than being clueless for 8.

I did my first century ride this past Sunday at Sweetcorn. Of course I was running late as usual so I didn’t start with everyone else. I hadn’t ever ridden more than 62 miles before that so this was a fun new treat! Honestly the worst thing about it was the pain in my shoulders and neck. Todd was trying out his new frame (his old one had a defect but was still under warranty) so he was a little hesitant on the downhills, but I flew down them as fast as I could. There was one uphill where I swear I almost died - I was in the lowest possible gear my bike would go — haven’t put my bike in that gear in over a year — but I was still barely able to get up it! Needless to say the hills were mostly humbling experiences.  At least I didn’t get off my bike and walk - which I see people do there every year.  Can you imagine???  OMG how embarrassing!!

So I have managed to get right back into working out.  I have done my track workouts 3 weeks in a row exactly as the training program says.  (A little longer recovery time…but I blame the heat for that).  I’ve even managed to squeeze in swimming (that’s for Brian R.)!!  We’re planning on going to the Highland pool at lunch on Friday which should be fun.  I do need to get back on board with paying attention to my nutrition.  I was doing so well there for a while and I don’t know what happened.  Part of it is that it’s really difficult to make healthy meals when you have no time, and going to school 2 days a week after work made it really hard.

Just wanted to write a quick post justifying my absence in both social and athletic venues…

My body is angry.  Rightly so - I slept an average of 3 hours a night and my eating was just as bad (forgot to eat a few times…) during my trip to Eindhoven.  Now I am being punished with a bad cold that started out with a sore throat, then turned into stuffy nose, and now it’s moved to *gasp* my lungs!  Argh.   Let’s see if I can have a miraculous recovery so that I can join E-Speed and Daisy for a 15 mile trail run tomorrow at SIX IN THE MORNING!!!!