2013 Recap and 2014 Goals

This was not really my year. I’m not a big fan of recaps, but some highlights (or would they be lowlights?)

-I did a lot of online dating in the first few months of the year. Those experiences gave me guys named “Over-Sexed Scotty, Blow-Job Justin, Douche-Bag Scott, The Lobbyist” etc. So many losers. So little time. But such GREAT stories! I don’t think I’ve even told you guys all of them.

-I did my 3rd Lincoln half in May, and managed a sub 2:30 half (2:28:11) and a new PR! A few weeks later I did the Fargo half with Brooke, Johnna and Bailee. Epic and awesome. Wonderful vacation and great girls. I miss them.

I declared the summer, the Summer of Melissa and decided to focus on me! No dating, relax and have fun. I didn’t really follow the no dating rule: I went out with Blender Blake and then started dating the now Ex Man Friend in August. Whatever. I’m not sorry about it.

In September I ran my 4th Half Marathon of the year in Omaha. I signed up 3 days before and was only 9 minutes off my PR! Not too shabby for no training.

October and November were rife with drama in my love life (when isn’t there?) as man friend and I broke up and got back together twice. We’re friends now. It’s kinda weird but fine.

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Now we’re here. On the brink of a new year. I have very high hopes for 2014. I need it to be a better year. Not just for me, but for my family too. My dad needs a better job. I’d like one. I want to get stronger and faster. Try new things. Have a more full life. So here’s my list of goals for 2014:

1. Run a sub-2:25 half. Its only 3 minutes off my previous PR. Totally doable.

2. Run 3 halfs: Lincoln, the Manitoba Half in June with Brooke! And Omaha again in September.

3. Do more things that scare me. Whatever they may be. Saying yes to more things or dates or whatever. Just put myself out there even more.

4. Date with an open mind, but stay true to myself. Guard my heart but take a chance. This may involve online dating. We shall see.

5. Fall in love with every aspect of my life.

6. Cook more.

That’s about it. I think these are doable and fun goals.

Here’s to a fantastic 2014 friends! Let’s make everyday count!

“Ice, ice baby…”

I went running outside for the first time in awhile this morning. The weather and my schedule have not cooperated to make it happen lately. But today, the stars aligned. It’s gorgeous here. Nearly 50 degrees when I was done. But look at that extended forecast–the bottom is going to drop out Sunday when a cold front moves in. 40 degree temperature change! Ugh.

My one complaint during my run? My hometown got about 4 inches of Snow Saturday night, and so we had a white Christmas this week. That was great. But seriously, homeowners! It’s been nearly a week- get your crap together and scoop your sidewalks! I had to slow down and walk or tread lightly because people haven’t scooped and now there is ice mixed with the snow. Cold weather running problems. Sigh.

I checked my DailyMile and I’m 7 miles away from 750 miles run for the year…so that’s my new goal. 4 days for 7 miles–barring any more illness! I’ve been slow this week since that stomach bug. My appetite isn’t 100% yet and I’ve been so tired. I’ve been grateful for this vacation time–I know I wouldn’t have felt like working! Serendipitous planning!

Today I’m going to go see “Saving Mr. Banks” with my ‘rents. Matinee pricing FTW! Have a great Friday everyone!

My day in (some) pictures:

My first day of vacation is pretty great! I slept in, (815 is sleeping in now. Crap, I’m getting old!) Then I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I had lunch with 2 of my favorite guys at my favorite sandwich place. While there, a homeless man told me that I looked beautiful today. I’m sure that in no way was designed to make me give him money! 😉

I had to park in the parking garage and when I got on the elevator the “help” button was going off. A child had pushed the button and left. The man on the line was quite nice and said he was just glad everything was ok. He then wished me a Merry Christmas! So nice!

After lunch I got a one hour massage. Feels so good! My back and butt had so much tension in them! I feel so much better.

After that, I headed to my parents house where I made dinner. Fun Melissa fact: whenever I cook or bake I wear an apron. I’m so klutzy that I have the tendency to get food on my clothes. I have several aprons that my mom has bought me over the years. They’re adorable.

I’m spending the evening watching Christmas movies and relaxing. That’s a win. Vacation rocks.

Have a great night friends!

“Moving on is easy. It’s staying moved on that’s trickier.” ― Katerina Stoykova Klemer

I told you guys that this past Sunday I was doing the Ugly Sweater Run with my most recent ex man friend. Friends and family were equally parts skeptical and supportive that we can just be friends.

And ya know what? It was fine. We were fine. Things went well and I’m glad. There were a few moments where if either one of us would have said “F this,” and moved in for a kiss it would have been ON! but it didn’t happen. And I’d like to think its because I have exceptional willpower! Trust me, there were too many moments of being too close together (friends shouldn’t hug and hold each other for THAT long, right? That’s what I thought.) Things could have been VERY different.

A photo of us before the Ugly Sweater Run: Don’t we look so pretty? I love the hats!

Interesting things:

He asked me how I am, then his follow up question is if I am dating anyone. I told him no and that I thought I had the holiday blues. His followup to that was if I was blue because I don’t have a gentleman caller to take home to meet my family? I said no, just blue. I thought his line of questioning was funny. Clearly, he still cares.
After the run, we saw a guy I dated this past spring. I avoided him and skirted around him. Awkward! Ex Man Friend said, “all of Melissa’s ex boyfriends should remain single the rest of their lives.” I said, no, I never said it. This was just one of the guys that ghosted me. Strange.
He posted a picture of us at the run on Facebook. His brother in law texted his dad (who doesn’t have FB) and said “Ex Man friend posted a picture of himself and the girl he’d gotten pregnant.” That was supposed to be a joke…that that was how he told him family-by posting a picture. But I took it as I looked fat. He felt awful and kept hugging me and telling me how beautiful and attractive I am. That went on for awhile. He felt bad. I told him he was working to undo about 15 years of me being messed up in the head and it wasn’t going to go away in 5 minutes of him telling me these things. Sigh.

It was good. Good to see him, and good to be friends. And that’s all it is. That’s all I can handle. He’s a dear friend and while it has taken me about a month to “get over it” I think I finally am.

And you know what? That’s freakin’ awesome! 🙂

My night in pictures:

I had a really good hair day. It seemed such a shame to ruin it with a run. So i snapped a picture of my perky ponytail before all was lost. I got my run in too. I Sent Becky a snapchat to prove it. Success!

Tomorrow is sweater and snack day at work. I’m getting a lot of mileage out of my ugly sweater this year! I also made peanut butter cups to take to work for my snack contribution. They’re easy, except I left them in the fridge for too long, now the chocolate is hard to cut. First world problems.

The roomie and I are chilling, watching The Polar Express, and enjoying our Christmas lights.

One of our smoke detectors is dying. Its chirps are driving me nuts! I can’t figure out which one it is! Argh!

Have a great night friends!

My morning in pictures:

The owner of the company/station are in town so that means we all have to look nice. This is my attempt. My hair cooperated. I’m a fan.
I wore my new mittens that Brooke sent me! So warm and fuzzy! Love them.
Today is my Monday. Tomorrow is my Friday. I don’t work again until December 30th. I feel like I’m in college again with a real Christmas vacation! Vacation days FTW!
We are having an Ugly Sweater and snack day at the station tomorrow. I’m wearing my sweater and making peanut butter cups. I’m also hitting the treadmill for a 5k tonight and another one in the morning before work. Someone please hold me accountable!
I am processing some things from this weekend. Life is strange sometimes.

That’s all I got! Have a great day friends!

Happy Friday Friends! Things are looking up here. I’m going to focus on the good things happening in my life, instead of the bad. Count my blessings.

It’s Friday. It’s payday at both jobs. That’s fantastic. Also, we are getting paid for working Thanksgiving and the day after (they are both holidays here.) So I get 2 extra days of pay. This is my favorite paycheck of the year!
We get our Christmas bonuses today at the Ocho-$50 to a grocery store. We also have our Christmas party in January…then we usually get another $25 gift certificate to somewhere else in town. Movies, a restaurant or Target. That’s a win.
We had our Corky Christmas party this week. I got my Christmas bonus there too. I’m a happy girl.
I’m wearing hot pink and I did my hair today. I’m feeling good. Thought I’d treat you to my smiling face for a Friday! 🙂
I like the juxtaposition of my beverages today: a Christmas mug full of Chai Tea Latte and a Summer tumbler of water. Hydrating like a boss.
Do you remember when I bought a wallet and found the previous owner’s Social Security card? Well, last night at Corky there was a woman who looked familiar but I couldn’t place her. She said she’d never been there, but her name was familiar too. I finally realized that it was this woman after seeing her name on her credit card. I didn’t say anything about the ss card. Just warmed my heart to know it was her. The world is small, but Lincoln is smaller.
Tomorrow is my momma’s birthday. I’m heading home to spend the day with her, then Sunday I’m doing the Ugly Sweater 5k in Omaha with my Ex Man Friend. You read that right. We’re running it together. We are still trying to be friends. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes! 🙂 New territory for me here.

Happy Friday friends!

“The Ultimate inspiration is the deadline”

I live my life by deadlines. The news is full of them. The midday starts at 11am. The 5pm at 4:59:00, and so forth. My life is dictated by dozens of deadlines daily.

So I think that’s why in the rest of my life I’m a procrastinator. I put things off, despite having the best of intentions. I wanted to have all my Christmas shopping done early this year, but alas, it was not meant to be. As of last night I only had 2 things purchased! Cue a stomachache of panic.

Today, I remedied that situation: I bought my BFF’s their presents, I bought part of my Secret Santa theirs and made headway on the others! Thank you Amazon Prime. I love you. So very much.

The rest of it should be done this weekend and my secret santa will get theirs next week. Success!

I really need to work on this procrastination thing.

I’ll get to that someday. Maybe tomorrow. 🙂

Merry Christmas from The Ocho!

Each year, my TV station does a Christmas Promo video. Usually we just stand there, wave and smile. This year, our Promotions lady wrote a story about us tracking Santa Claus. This is the finished product. I’m in the newsroom scene wearing a white and green striped shirt!

Enjoy!

“I triple-dog dare you!”

It’s not my favorite Christmas movie…in fact I’ve only seen it a handful of times. But I can’t pass up a sweet shirt and medal!

Yes, I did it on the treadmill. Yes, I ran with my bib on. Yes, I wore green to be Christmasy. Yes, I listened to Christmas music while I ran. No regrets.

A Christmas Story virtual 5k, 33:48

Happy Saturday!