Happiness is the little things 11.9.12

1.  Video Games

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Seriously love RPG's.  I played Dragon Age I at least 6 times ( 30 hour game) I've played Dragon Age II, 4 times ( 40 hour game) Fable II so many times I can't tell you ( much shorter game) and Fable III 3 or 4 times.  I am kind of an addictive personality and an escapist.  Ok, I am totally an addictive personality and an escapist.  It's more interactive than reading or TV.  People who don't read or play video games only get to live one life. I have lived hundreds.  When you do all of the really sad nerd math up there you will realize why we don't have cable. 

2.  Indoor Cycling

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Yet another opportunity to reveal to you my oddities.  I love working out.  We had our hardest class yet on Monday and I was walking out talking about how much fun I had.  Other people were crying.  It's all about pacing yourself people!

3.  Carmel Apple Spice from StarBucks

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Just like drinking apple pie.  Don't let the picture fool you.  You have to order this VENTI or it does not taste as amazing as it can be.  I hate coffee with a fiery passion.  Yet somehow I am a gold card holder at Starbucks.  Figure that one out.  I started the whole card system for the free soy.  But they recently took that perk away.  Let's not forget I have to avoid soy now as well.  Maybe these will keep me at Gold Card status.

4.  Democracy

 

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I discovered during this election that I truly love democracy.  I was listening to people talk about how they would throw away their spouses absentee ballot if the knew they had voted for the other party.  Between conversations like that and some of the other craziness going on, it made me realize what a great country we live in.  We can choose our leaders.  As flawed and damaged as our system is, at the end of the day We The People have a voice.  And of you are even tempted to throw away someone else's vote you do not believe in democracy or America.  Being part of the democratic process is an honor, and a thrill.  That also means accepting the vote of the majority, even if you do not agree.

5.  Jonathan Apples

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I love tart and sour.  I know the world loves the Honey Crisp but not I.  Give me a half green, half red, tart, fleshy Jonathan Apple.  Which reminds me, I need to go buy another batch at the Farmer before they are out.

What's been getting you through the day?

Lucy Guardino FBI Thrillers

LINK

I LOVED the first book.  I had never downloaded a Kindle book on my phone to read until I was reading Snake Skin.  CJ Lyons interweaves various first person narratives through out the book.  You want to keep turning to learn more about whichever character she is throwing at you next.  I don't like the main character, Lucy.  The author tries very hard to make sure you understand her, but I don't like her.  While the subject matter was dark I found the most disturbing scenes to be the one where it appeared she was systematically trying to tear her family apart.  I believe I bought this for under $3 on my Kindle and it was well worth it.

4/5

 

 

LINK

Blood Stained was not the novel that Snake Skins was.  I found the subject matter far more depressing, and the new characters, especially the ones allowed first person narratives, far less interesting.  One of the things I liked the least, and a pet peeve of mine,  is as the reader, you know what is going on long before Lucy does.  For example, the entire book.  The other main first person perspective is transparent.  While the author never tells you what is going on behind his view, you know what's coming.  And you know it is sad.  Unless you are bored this winter skip this one.  I am looking forward to the third book which will be released soon, but the second book was forgettable.

2/5

October to November

October was quite a month.  I have lots of blogs in the draft folder that I wrote, but none that I was able to publish.  I hate it when bloggers say that.  I can tell you this, I will hit publish eventually.

My October fitness minutes were minimal.  I did a lot of walking dirt trails and paved trails but zero riding.  My Endomondo screen shot for October would look pretty pathetic if I shared it with you.

It is November, and it is cold.  My husband and I don't like coffee so we drink a lot of hit tea and hot chocolate.

I had a migraine for three weeks, that was fun.  I've decided it was the soy in the new vitamin I was taking.  I was in denial about that for...well....three weeks.  I had done a lot of research and had chosen a food based highly rated and well reviewed product.  I even bought it from Whole Foods.  Once I decided denial wasn't doing anything for my migraine, I stopped taking it. Life has been much better since then.  Now I need to start all over with my research and find a food based vitamin with NO SOY.  Ugh.

I've started indoor cycling at work 2 days a week with a group of my co-workers.  It's been 1 week and a lot of fun so far.

Yesterday I went for a 45 degree, 14 mile bike ride.  It was further on a different side of my path then I have gone before.  I took the hybrid with the wider tires and it was a nice adventure.  I think I will be riding it more in the winter than I did in the summer.

My aunt bought me cycling tights as an early Christmas present and they are awesome.  I wore only those ( not lined) and my bike shorts and my legs were not cold and did not feel the wind at all.  I highly suggest getting yourself a pair.  I tired to wear a neck gator but I felt like I was choking so I took it off.  I might try to stretch it out before I wear it again, or just buy a face mask.  We shall see how dedicated I am to cold weather riding.

I have read a multiple books I want to post reviews for and I am halfway through a favorites post.

Tampons

(Not for the weak of stomach.  Or heart.  Or the easily offended. Or if you don't like period talk. Or blood talk.)

Why is it women only talk about periods and not the products that get us through it?  Contrary to commercials I have never had an in depth conversation with my friends regarding cardboard, plastic or no applicator LET ALONE brand names.

Before this week, I had not had a period in 4 years.  I changed birth controls on Tuesday.  Hell hath no fury like a uterus that has had crap in storage for 4 years.  That is a long time to be out of the feminine hygiene products game.  My reintroduction into it was unexpected.  I hit up another woman for a tampon and off to the bathroom I went.  Holy sh!t snacks. (I am totally obsessed with Archer, if I hadn't mentioned that yet).

Why cardboard?  I know the environment blah blah and I don't care.  Why cardboard?  I would rather go OB applicator-less than use cardboard.  Maybe it's just my motor skills or something, but asking me to  use a cardboard applicator is like asking to disarm a bomb with greasy hands, underwater, to save sharks.  It stresses me out and makes everyone else uncomfortable.

Super Triple Mega Absorbency.  Shouldn't you just be at home sitting on the toilet if you need a tampon this big?  I don't think I have the right insides for those things.  I also haven't bled a lot since puberty, so maybe it's me, not the tampon.

Tampax Pearls. I tried these, and I hate them.  I don't appreciate my tampon falling apart inside me.  I do not believe that couple of strings braided together means more protection. Does the tampon itself really have to be that long?  Cuz I really don't think so.  Why are woman still buying these?  They were crappy and uncomfortable 4 years ago and they are crappy and uncomfortable now.  Who are you other women with your cardboard and Tampax and why are you doing this to your selves?

After work I took myself out to the drug store to buy the brands that I am comfortable with when it comes to the whole bleeding for 7 days and not dying thing.

The pads section at least looked like we have reached a consensus about the most comfortable route but the tampons are still a freak show.

I always used Kotex tampons.  If you had a period in the last four years you would know that Kotex lost their damn minds and decided that tampons should be a fashion statement.  The covers are all varying pretty colors, the applicators are all pretty colors with designs on them.  A reminder that your period should be discrete and colored with pretty paper, apparently.  As off put as I was by the new packaging they still seemed to be the best alternative to the aforementioned Tampax.  I bought a discreet black box with the pretty pretty colors inside and took it home.

Pure genius.  I don't care what they decide to do with their boxes or colors in the future.  As long as they continue to make plastic applicators exactly the way they are now, I will continue to buy them.  There was no bomb and no sharks.  I was in and out of the bathroom in record time and with 0 frustration.  Once placed Kotex does not get oddly longer like Tampax nor does it fall apart.  They just get wider, which I appreciate.

I realize there are Diva cups and other solutions besides pads and tampons out there.  I did try a cup once, and I don't have the cervix for it.  I may try a different brand in the future if the whole "being a woman" thing continues.

 For now, I am going to stick with my Always pads and my Kotex tampons.  I will avoid bumming from other women's stash at all cost. 

It Is Always Something

This was written on my phone as I could not together the strength to write it on my laptop. it is always something isn't it? Either I had to go down 62 flights of stairs for work or I have a cold or my long as well the or any other number of things.
 
When it is not something I am to busy being lazy to do the things I should be doing. then something happens like now. I finally got a cold from 1 of my Germ  infested coworkers. I have no energy and my nose will not stop running. I know that this is just the beginning and the cold monster is looming.

This post is really not to complain about being sick however. this post is to complain about my lack of doing things when I am perfectly capable of doing them. Then something happens like 1 of the many things mentioned above and all I can think about is all the things I could be doing if I could actually pull myself up off the couch.

Why can't I get my act together? I need to figure out some ways to motivate myself to be an adult when I get home from work. Other than forcing myself to exercise which I've gotten fairly good at this year. I guess I could try the same kind of system to force myself to clean and do other adult things.

I am not sure what exactly but I'm sure there's something.
so there you have it. my pity party/ pep talk to myself.

Self: get better and be an adult!
I hope I am better in time for my 50 mile ride on Saturday. ugh.