If you were expecting a Weekend Wrap Up, that will be tomorrow. I hope you're enjoying a long weekend like I am. Instead, I've got some random shit to share with you today!
Passive aggressiveness at Aldi. At Aldi, the lines can get long,but he cashiers are very fast. So even if there is a long line, you probably don't wait longer than you would at a "normal" grocery store with a "normal" line. If I have a huge cart full of food and there is someone behind me with just one or two things, I normally ask the person if they want to go ahead. People are usually surprised and appreciative when I offer that. But sometimes, they act like you owe it to them to let you go ahead. They stand behind your cart, look at all your stuff, try to make eye contact with you, and maybe sigh. They'll purposefully make a big deal out of looking around to see if there are other lines open. Guess what? When someone is behind me doing that shit, I do NOT ask if they want to go ahead of me! That's what I do. Teach lessons to assholes at Aldi. It's never too early or Christmas! I totally forgot to tell you this story... At the end of July I went to Big Lots and I got very annoyed that there was "Back to School" displays. July is TOO EARLY. But then in the next aisle there was a Christmas display and I got very excited! I freaking love Christmas, and I don't care that Christmas stuff is out at the same time as Halloween stuff. The earlier, the better!!! (Don't worry, I realize I am like the only person who feels this way!)
#Smartphoneproblems. The past couple nights I have been falling asleep to the glow of my Smartphone. I am addicted to Scrabble! I play against the computer. Anyhoo, when I hold my smartphone for too long, my right hand falls asleep! Does anyone else have this problem? The 90s are back! I never thought I would see the day when all the clothes I wore in middle school were back in style... But the other day I went into Forever 21, and I was immediately transported back to middle school. Floral prints. Denim vests. They even had BODYSUITS! Remember those crazy shirts that snapped under your crotch?
I saw this meme on Facebook and just had to share it with you...
I'm going to tell you 5 times a day, just to make sure you know.
I'd like to say I am methodically learning how to use all of my phone's features, but that would be a lie. I am basically addicted to Scrabble and Snapchat.
Just indulge me. Pretend I'm you're 85 year old grandma who is now just experiencing this amazing technology!
Then Paul got in on the action...
I have always liked men in eyeliner. I blame my years in community theater for that one.
Face swap. It's funny how normal looking we are but when we swap faces... damn, we ugly!
I tried to use Snapchat with the kitties but it didn't work. I guess it only recognizes human faces?
Happy Sunday, ya'all!
What app do you use the most on your phone for "serious" stuff? What do app do you use for "silly" stuff? Recommend and app for me! Something that will change my life the way Snapchat did!
Minimal running and lots of lifting is what happened this week. I'm just kind of doing whatever I feel like right now.
Saturday- I very much wanted to run, but I knew my upper body needed a BURN today. I went to Planet Fitness and lifted back. As much as I like to run on the weekends, sometimes it is better to get a back workout done instead. When I lift back, it takes me 75-90 minutes, so it's nice to do it on a day when I have a lot of time. When I do it during the week, I have to make sure I step foot in the gym at exactly 5:45 so I have enough time to git 'er done before work. Unassisted Wide Grip Pull Ups- 1x4 Asst. Wide Grip Pull Ups- 4x8x16lb asst. Asst. Close Grip Pull Us- 5x8x16lb asst. Inverted Row- 5x10 Lat Pull Down- 5x10x70lb Cable Row- 5x15x50lb Bicep Curls- 5x10x15lb Bicycle Crunches- 5x40 Capt. Chair- 6x20 Stability Ball Knee Tuck- 5x15 Glute exercises Stretching calves and ITB. I did 4 unassisted pull ups! I used to be able to do 7. That was two winters ago when I took some time off running and focused a lot on lifting. I will be honest, I wish I could still do 7, but considering I haven't been really working toward any lifting goals, this is still good news. I think if I can maintain 3-4 pull ups as my base and maybe accept that I will only be able to do more if I am in tip top lifting shape, I will be okay with that. A lot of people ask me how to work up to doing a pull up, and I plan on writing about that soon! Sunday- 5 miles. I had the slowest run ever. I was so sad and it made my whole body feel heavy. When I am angry, I run fast. When I am sad, I am slow. Monday- 5 miler in my hood. Tuesday- 5 miler in my hood. Wednesday- I lifted chest at home before work while I watched Anderson Cooper. I realized I need to start doing 30lb chest press because I was easily able to do 5 sets of 15 reps @ 25lbs. I honestly should have increased my weight like months ago but I have been lazy! Chest Press- 5x15 25lb Push Ups- 5x10 Shoulder Press- 5x10x20lb Tricep Dips- 6x15 (lost count and did an extra set!) Bicycles- 5x40 Stability Ball Pull Ins- 5x15 Sit Ups- 5x15 Hip/Glute exercises Thursday- I hot up super early and went to the gym to lift back before work. My gym got a bunch of new machines to replace the "old" ones. They didn't look old to me so I'm not sure why they had to switch them. I am bummed because the new assisted pull up machine is a lot different than the old one. With the old one, I feel like it gave you equal assistance the whole way up. With the new one, it is like it stops helping you the last 1/3 of the way. I know it will force me to get stronger, so at least that is good... Wide Grip Asst. Pull Ups- 3x4x12lb asst, 2x6x16lb asst. Neutral Grip Asst. Pull Ups- 5x6x16lb asst. Inverted Row- 5x10 Lat Pull Down- 5x10x85lb Cable Row- 5x10x55lb Bicep Curls- 5x10x15lb Bicycles- 5x40 Plank w/ Knee Tuck- 5x20 Stability Ball Pull Ins- 5x15 Capt Chair- 5x20 Hip/Glute Exercises + Stretching Friday- 5 miler in my hood. It was a little brisk out! I mean, brisk by September standards!
Happy Friday, friends! Even though I only had a four day work week, I am very excited to have a long Labor Day weekend! Here's some random-ness for you today.
1. I have a funny kid story for you.I don't tell stories from school a lot because I don't want to cross a line, but I have a good one I fee comfortable sharing today.
I was asking some 4th graders what they did over the summer and a lot of them mentioned going to Hershey Park and Knoebels. I told them my roller coaster story from the other day and finished with saying that I should have asked to get off the ride as soon as I felt uncomfortable, but I didn't. "It's because you were embarrassed, right?" one of the students asked. "No, she was trying to be brave!" another student said, sticking up for me.
Then in a 1st grade class, I asked how many of them rode the Super Dooper Looper at Hershey Park (an upside down coaster) and about six of them said they rode it! I could not believe they were tall enough and brave enough to ride it. One little girl excitedly told me that she rode it but cried the whole time. I laughed and she laughed along with me because she realized it was sort of silly. I asked her if she thinks she'll ride it again when she is older. She said no, she'd ride it again right now.
Kids are silly!
2. Paul thinks I should change professions! I loved all of your comments on my post about how I am obsessed with trials and murder cases. Some of you suggested that maybe I missed my calling and should become a lawyer or a detective. Paul had an even better idea. I should be a court stenographer!
3. I haven't been talking about running lately.I've been running, but nothing interesting has been happening so I feel like I don't really have anything to say about it! Please hang in there, readers! I promise I will talk about running again eventually!
4. Paul is my house husband!Now that I am back at work, Paul has reclaimed his house husband duties. It is nice to not have to worry about housework!
5. Don't call me.I got a new smartphone but please don't call me. It feels really weird holding it up to my ear. It's big and clunky and I know I look totally awkward! I am, however, halfway signed up for Snapchat and Instagram. I'll let you know when I'm the whole way signed up! And then we can be Snapchat friends or Insta friends or whatever you call it when you're connected to someone on those apps.
How do you and your partner divide housework? Parents or teachers: Tell me a funny kid story! Tell me something random!
Yesterday, I said goodbye to my beloved Samsung Alias flip phone and got a SMARTPHONE!!!!
I know, I'm a little late to the smartphone party. I did not want a smartphone at all. I didn't understand the point. If I need the internet, I have internet at home and at work. I don't need to have the internet with me everywhere I go.
So then what changed my mind?
Well, about a year and a half ago, Paul got his first smartphone and I fell in love with the camera. The cameras are SO GOOD! He gets sick of me stealing his phone to take blog pictures and wanted me to get my own. I sort of learned how to do a couple things on his phone, so I started to feel more comfortable with the concept of having a smartphone.
Then my upgrade with Verizon rolled around and since getting a smartphone would only increase our bill by $4 a month, it was a no brainer.
Paul picked it up for me yesterday and had it all ready for me when I got home from work. It was a surprise! I didn't think I was getting it until September 6th but he did an early upgrade!
It is a Samsung Galaxy S6. He got a screen protector for me and I'm getting a phone case for it tomorrow.
I'm a little nervous that I won't end up liking it, so I am keeping my Alias. I can always go back to my flip phone if I don't like my smartphone.
I just don't want to become one of those people that is addicted to their phone, or has their face in their phone when they should be interacting with people! Friends, if I start doing that, please call me out on it!
Oh well. It's the end of an era. I'm a little sad but also excited!
On
Monday, Paul and I went to THE BEST amusement park in the world: Knoebel’s
Grove. It is no secret I love Knoebel’s. Growing up, it was the park my parents
always took us to. I have so many fond memories of Knoebels!
Paul
hasn’t been having many symptoms lately so he felt comfortable riding more
intense rides and than he normally would have. I mean, he wasn’t going
to do the Cosmotron or anything (that ride involves a light show and strobe
lights!), but he was game to try some coasters!
Since
most kids were back in school on Monday, there were no crowds and very few
lines. The only ride we had to wait for was The Flying Turns, which was
a new trackless roller coaster I hadn’t had the chance to ride yet.
Absolutely no lines at The Phoenix!
As
we were waiting in line at The Flying Turns, I started to reminisce to Paul about the first time
I ever rode and upside down coaster.
It
was back in 1992, when I was 11 years old. The coaster was called The Whirlwind
and it used to stand at the exact spot
we were at now. It was such a magical day for me and my brothers because I
remember there being no line at all. We rode The Whirlwind, hopped off, ran
back around, and got right back on. We rode it so many times. What an awesome
experience for us!
Super old school picture of The Whirlwind...
I
had the absolute OPPOSITE experience on an upside down coaster at the park on
Monday. And it was the very first thing we rode…
When
we got into the park, we headed straight to Impulse, which is the newest
coaster. Even though it had been running for a year or so, I never rode it
because it looked scary and the line was always long. Today, there was no line,
so I figured why not!?
After
getting into the coaster, I immediately felt uncomfortable because the
restraint did not go over my head. Any time I have ridden a ride that goes
upside down, the restraint was like this:
I like this kind of restraint. I feel secure. And I also like the extra measure of the strap that goes between your crotch, so if for some reason the part going over your shoulders released, it would still stay in place with the strap.
Okay, now this is what the restraint for Impulse is:
WTF?????
Nothing over your shoulders? The restraint wasn’t even tight against my waist!
I swear if I had a gun to my head, I could have wriggled out of the shoddy
restraint holding me in.
“I
don’t like this,” I kept saying to Paul as they prepared us for our ride. “Why
isn’t there anything over our shoulders?” I asked. “I don’t like this, I don’t
like this,” I kept saying. As soon as the coaster slowly started rolling I felt
my stomach drop. I was absolutely convinced I was going to die. The track went
STRAIGHT UP so we were basically on our backs staring into the sky. I don’t
know what I was saying but I was absolutely panicking at this point. I held on,
closed my eyes, and reminded myself that when I flew out of seat and fell to my
death, it would not hurt because I would die right away.
I
kept my eyes closed the entire ride and just kept bracing myself for something
to go wrong. I was never more scared in my life. As scared as I was on the
ride, the emotion didn’t completely hit me until our car slowed to a stop at
the end of the ride. That was the point that I had what I can only describe as
a panic attack. My chest felt heavy yet fluttery and I could not catch my
breath. I could barely stand up to get out of the ride. I was pretty sure my
face was white as I ghost. I could not believe I survived the ride.
Sorry
if that sounds dramatic, but it was legitimately how I felt.
Looking
back, I should have asked to be let off the ride as soon as I realized I was
uncomfortable with our restraints. As we walked to the next ride, I apologized
profusely to Paul for being a killjoy on the ride and that I hoped I didn’t
ruin his experience, but I really thought I was going to die and I couldn’t
help myself from panicking. It took me awhile to calm my heart rate. All I
could think was “I AM ALIVE!!!!”
(The
next day, I went on Youtube and watched a POV video of Impulse. Check it out if
you are interested!)
It’s
crazy that I used to love thrill rides and now that I am older, all I can think
about is “What could go wrong? How am I going to die on this ride?”
There
are very few rides at Knoebel’s that don’t scare me anymore. For some reason I
am not afraid of the Log Flume, The Twister, The Phoenix, or the Skloosh. Of
course I am not scared of the Pioneer Train, Antique Cars, The Carousel, or the
Haunted House.
We
rode the Italian Swings on Monday. I was terrified. I rode the Paratroopers and
The Flyers earlier in the summer and I was scared. Obviously Impulse was the
worst 1-2 minutes of my life and you could not pay me to ever ride that again. We still managed to have fun at Knoebels and I am pretty sure that as long as I never ride Impulse again, I will enjoy every second I am in the park!
Totally my kind of ride.
I freaking love Knoebels!
We also hit up the pool! They have high dives and water slides!
And you know how I feel about water slides!
Do you remember the first time you rode an upside down coaster?
Okay, this is one of those random posts I am famous for writing. You all know I write about my life and other random shit just as much IF NOT MORE than I write about running sometimes. That's what happens when you blog every day. I could never, ever, EVER write about running and fitness everyday... which is why I write random posts like this one! Oh well! Enjoy! Or skip!
I am wondering if you can figure out what is wrong with me. I am obsessed with death and murder cases. Should I find it alarming that whenever one of my friends sees an article about Jodi Arias or JonBenet, they send it my way? Should I think it's weird that my heart is sincerely touched that I am the first person they think of when they see any new information about these cases? Note: I do not like gory horror movies or slasher films. I do not enjoy people getting hurt or murdered. I like learning about the investigation and litigation aspects! When did my obsession begin? I'd have to say college. I remember watching Forensic Files in my dorm room. That is also when I discovered Court TV and I started watching various criminal trials. I love reading books about high profile murder cases. I love watching trials on Youtube. I have seen the Jodi Arias full trial twice and highlights from it twice. I even have a "favorite" Jodi Arias interview I watch over and over again while I'm doing puzzles. I also like watching her interrogation videos. Before you think I am sick, I must stress: It's not that I love "murders", it's the I love learning about the investigation, the law, and how both prosecutors and defense attorneys go about litigating a trial. When we went to Boulder this past summer, we drove by the Ramsey house. I would have paid money to go inside and take a tour. I give Paul tips on what to do if I am ever murdered. First, I told him that as the husband, he would be the first suspect the police would look at. I told him to take a polygraph right away so police could rule him out and focus their investigation resources elsewhere. When we go on vacation, I always like to research what kinds of deaths and accidents happen. When we went to San Francisco, I wanted to learn about how many people commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. When we went to the Grand Canyon, I wanted to learn about all the people that died there and what went wrong. When we went to Rocky Mountain National Park, I wanted to learn about the deaths and accidents there as well. You probably already knew I like learning about murder investigations, but I realize you this post makes me sound bat shit crazy! I swear I am not! But I still ask you in a good natured way... What the hell do you think is wrong with me!!??
What do you think is wrong with me? Is there a high profile crime you find particularly interesting? Any unsolved cases that you think you have cracked?
