Can’t Keep Me Away

I’m writing this post as fast as I can before my old computer decides to shut down randomly on me! 

You know I can’t stay away from you guys…I love you all and your input too much!

So yesterday started out like any other day…How about breakfast out in the field?  What better view could you ask for while chowing down?

My point counts were awesome!  I saw so many beautiful birds I had never seen before and was just giddy to the max.  That’s what happens when you’re a birder with new species.

I took my time snacking on this Odwalla Superfod Bar (severely smashed in my backpack btw) throughout the morning before finishing up and heading back home for lunch!

Can you believe this was actually previously wrapped and smashed in my backpack too?  Hell yeah to me on presentation.

I did some work and had a Trail Mix/Cereal Mix for snack, along with a 1/2C of TJ’s Chocolate Pudding made w/ USVAB and frozen.  OMG so good!

And then after dropping some $$$ to purchase tickets to my town’s Food and Wine Festival in two weeks for my brothers, his girlfriend and myself, I walked outside and found this:

Tragedy in the making. 

I have been surrounded by wildfires my entire life, living in Southern CA, where they run rampant during the summer and fall because of such dry brush and dry heat.  I don’t remember too many from my earlier years, but when I was a freshman in college in San Diego my school actually closed for three days because the Cedar Fire was so bad, it was raining ash and they didn’t want the students walking outside and going to classes.  Talk about cabin fever.

As much as I fear for my life knowing how uncontrollable these events can be, I also feel for the people who lose their homes and the history they have made there.  But on top of it all, I’m completely devastated by the effects it has on the wildlife.

The area that is currently burning is where I was yesterday morning. 

I saw so many beautiful birds and wildlife (deer, rabbits, coyotes, foxes, wild mustang, etc.) and it breaks my heart to imagine their homes being lost, burned and fleeing for their lives.  They are such helpless creatures and I feel so helpless not being able to do anything for them.  I have to sit at home stuck in my home because the air quality is so bad…(PS What do I do with myself? It’s going to be like this for a few days I believe…)

I did try to head out of town to do my surveys early this morning but the air was so thick, the haze was so low, and I was so worried about an evacuation being called (because the fire isn’t very far from my place) that I headed back home to keep track of it all.

I just, I have no words.  It’s currently 5% contained and has burned over 1,200 acres.  Normal weather in this area is cool in the morning with no winds but by 11am the temps will sky rocket and so will the winds, not helping out the poor firefighters at all in their goal to stop it…

Sorry to be such a downer, but it’s the reality of what is going on.  I can’t help but be worried about the environment; it runs in my blood…

So, good ideas of how to stay occupied stuck in the house?  Computer is not an option so think outside the box… ;)

I currently have a cross stitch and three books.

PS  Did you see my guest post on Maggie’s blog?

Deep Breathes…

Not because I’m stressed, ok actually I am, but I’m trying to get rid of this stupid stomach uneasiness and severe nausea. 

Ugg. 

So bear with me for the next well, probably around two weeks when I AM GOING TO HAVE NO COMPUTER.  Yes, my new computer has to go in because I corrupted the hard drive already. Just.freak’n.great.  So bear with me as I won’t be commenting on your blogs.  I’ll still be able to read from my phone, but commenting won’t be so easy.  Boo.

Short review of the Sunday and Monday’s eats…without any descriptions.  Just add in a 9 mile and 4 mile run to the equation.  And some pushups.

Sunday:

Monday:

 

And sleep.  Or at least trying, as that’s not coming easy either. 

Family Time

Did you see my Inspiring post about Wild Things and Swanky Clubs?  I knew that would get your attention!

Anyhow, this weekend was about overcoming a weigh-in and spending time with my family.

[[Side Note: Weighing In Pt. II

So, I had my annual appointment on Friday that I talked about last week and the stress it was causing me having to weigh in at the doctors.  Basically I don’t weigh myself and don’t want to know my weight because I have a problem with numbers, be it weight or calories, etc.  Anyhow, after much discussion about it I had decided I was going to ask the nurse to weigh me backwards and not tell me how much I weighed.  With the help of some encouraging bloggers I went in with my head held high and ready to do what I wanted to be most comfortable.

Unfortunately as soon as I walked through the door it was a whirlwind of paperwork and insurance stuff, and then I headed into the back for the weigh in and blood pressure.  I was so flustered at that point that I didn’t have the nerve or second of time to tell the nurse I wanted to be weighed backwards.  So I did my best to avoid looking at the number (it’s one of those old school sliding medal pieces scales) and she didn’t say anything, so I moved on through the rest of it (I at least have a healthy blood pressure of 100/70!) and got assigned to a room for the rest of the appointment.  I was satisfied with not knowing the number and then…backlash.

My room was right outside the weigh in area and the nurse was going over the grips with another young girl after me.  I heard her step on the scale and then she says, “Oh, look at that, ###, and I didn’t have to change it from the last person on here!”. 

Ugg.

Now that I know the number…well, I don’t know how I feel about it.  My mom asked me how I felt after I told her this story and I just said that I didn’t want to think about it.  I don’t want to remember it (though we all know full well it’s ingrained in my head) and truthfully I’m trying hard not to let it get to me.  It’s higher than what I would have liked to hear which triggered a few old feelings, but I’m not going to let it make my life miserable.  If I need to do anything I’m going to do it in a healthy way but we’ll leave that for a later day.  I need to appreciate what I have and what I can do with my life right now…like a sweet 9 miler this morning in 1:22?!  Oh yeah ]]

Anyhow, after the weigh in it was a day of errands and fun and games with the family. We actually had the entire family there plus a significant other and a few of my brother’s friends to keep the awesomeness alive, not that we don’t have it without them.  Believe me, my family is a freak’n riot!

So, knowing we would have so many people over I suggested to my brothers that we do a taco bar!  Definitely a good idea with all the people we had over!  I made every different kind of filling from seasoned chicken and steak, to chickpeas and seasoned black beans.

We also had lots of sides like corn, bell peppers, onions, rice pilaf, salsa, cheese, mushrooms, olives, and lettuce.

And of course watermelon, which I cut and ate so much of beforehand I could only handle one bowl of it during dinner!

And then there was the homemade guacamole.  That stuff was so good…not to brag, but I did a good job.

Here’s my plate, plus a bowl of watermelon and some extra chips and guacamole to round out the night.

 

I also had a bit of frozen yogurt for dessert but it put me over the edge and I was absolutely stuffed.  Ick!  Never a good feeling..but it definitely made for a good nights sleep!

The next morning I woke up with the idea of running my long run of 9-10 miles but as soon as I started I knew it wasn’t going to happen.  My stomach was off, I felt horrendously nauseous and only ended up running 5.  At first I was pissed because I wanted to take the opportunity to run somewhere different from where I live and to just do it, but then realized hey, there’s always tomorrow right?  Hell yeah!  So I shook it off, dressed myself up and headed to the festival I’ve been attending for years where I went to high school.

We walked around the different booths from art and crafts, clothes and jewelry.  But this stand caught our eyes right off the bat and she got some good business from my family!  It’s a form of fused glass and they make for beautiful pendants, bracelets, earrings, bookmarks and purse holders!  My dad was awesome enough to buy me an early birthday present and purchased gorgeous necklace pendant for me that I put on as soon as I got home!  I don’t have a picture of the exact one, but take a look at the ones Christine, of Incendia Fused Glass had available!

My mom actually bought a necklace and earring set, my brother bought a necklace pendant for his girlfriend and I bought two for some friends I’m going to be visiting in the next few months…;)

 

I spent the afternoon with my Dad going a few places (B&N took over $50 from me! Ok, I gave it to them) and then ended up packing and heading home to Honey.  I left her super early Friday morning (like 5am) and was so worried about her being alone (I don’t know anyone to check in on her yet) even though I left her lots of food and water that I decided to head home Saturday night instead of Sunday…sacrificing fur family for family…the joys of being a fur-mommy.

Whew!  What a weekend with the family, among other things beforehand…I’ll let you know about the rest of my weekend, like my successful long run tomorrow!  I’m sure you’re tired of my posts for today!

Inspiration

Whew, I sure did take a break didn’t I!?  No worries, I have lots of fun things to tell you about…but I’ll start with Thursday and Friday…Two biggies for me!

So, remember how I told you think Wild Things and Swanky Clubs for my next post?  Well that’s what Thursday was all about!

I’ll start with the wild things I got to have my PB and Banana Lunch with:

What is that in the background you ask?!

WILD MUSTANG!!!

 

How gorgeous are they?!  They are absolutely beautiful and SO HEALTHY LOOKING!  I mean, they’ve got all that awesome greenery to munch on!!!  The herd there is just a small portion of the total that are out there, but sadly their population has diminished greatly due to habitat excavation…

And not only did I get to do some awesome bird observations at this pretty peak, but I also had a beautiful birdy friend visit me!

 

Can you find him?  I know I did!

Those binos always come in handy…along with my ears.  I hear more birds than I see so some studying is needed to identify the birds in the mountains versus the desert.

Anyways, have you had enough pictures yet?  I’m sure you've seen enough pictures but I have just one more for you, that comes with a story…

[[Side Note: Inspiration

So Wednesday morning I had construction training at the wind energy office for the project I’m working on. I got there a bit early and an older gentleman was there too, who started chatting with me about what I do for the company and so on and so forth (it was basically a class full of men who work with cranes and cement, etc.).  Anyhow, we chatted for a bit, I told him about the job I had and the ones I’d done in Florida and Texas.  It was friendly and what not, and I thought that was the end of of it.

During a break he started talking to me again and asked me a question: Would I come and have dinner with him, his wife and twin grand daughters to talk to them about what I did and have done, and to let them see that the sky is the limit for them like it has been for me.

Now let me tell you, I was in utter shock because well, first off this person I have known for like, 15 minutes is asking me to come to dinner.  And then, he wants me to talk to his grandaughters, to “inspire them” and let them know they can do anything they want in life (no matter how dangerous…hehehe).  After I accepted the offer and the idea settled in, anxiety hit.  Was I going to live up to what he thinks I am for his grandaughters?  Will I fail in explaining what I do and how I’ve lived my life?  Will I not be enough?

I talked to my counselor about this, feeling the anxiety after realizing the offer I had accepted, and she said that this just justifies what she has been telling me all along: I am a smart, independent woman; I have been to so many places and done so many things that many women my age have never done and probably never will.

This helped reassure me for the dinner I was going to have Thursday night up in the Mountain Valley at the Country Club. Ohhhh...

Isn’t it pretty there?  The area is all about environmental conservation, and of course absolutely gorgeous, so I couldn’t not like it!

Anyhow, I arrived on time with pictures in hands and stories to tell and enjoyed the dinner. The girls were so excited to meet me, hear my stories, tell me theirs, and look at my pictures.  It was very relaxing and nice, not overwhelming and stressful like I told myself it was going to be. I mean, I love talking about my jobs and what I do because I have such a passion for it and want people to know that there are young and older people out there doing the physical things, and not just sitting in an office writing papers of what people can be doing in the environment (though those people are huge in the conservation/preservation realm too!)

So, all in all, it reassured me and has helped with providing me with the optimism I need in my life.  It was such a relief after it was all done but great to know that I can inspire others, especially younger girls, in that you can do anything in your life, you just have to find the right door, open it, and start the party!!!

Whew! It was a long day having started work so early and finishing dinner so late so I didn’t head some for the weekend until the next morning when I would have my annual appointment I’ve been stressing out over the past few weeks…but we’ll leave this for the next post!  This one was already too long!

Art of my Work

Not only do I have to mater the art of driving over some insane terrain and worry about rolling down cliffs…

but I also get to admire the natural…and other arts throughout the desert.

Bahahahaha…I def liked looking at this more though:

How could you not?  Sorry to brag; I know there are pretty places than this though :)

Anyhow, I started today full of colors and seeds…seeds?  My PB was TJ’s PB and Flaxseeds and the Uncle Sam’s Cereal is also chock full of whole flaxseeds…you should have seen all the seeds at the bottom of the bowl!

 

Add in a peach and fresh berries and you’ve got an awesome breakfast.

I went off to a security training for the morning and got invited to something tomorrow that I’ll let you all in about afterwards…it’s gonna be a great Side Note!

I had to do some surveys and immediately snacked on a blueberry and chocolate chip oatmeal bar and an apple.  I was ready to eat my arm at that point!  It had been over 4 hrs since breakfast!  Yikes!

 

And then I headed off to Nowhere Ranch.  Ok, I just came across it, and found it hilarious.  It is definitely out in the middle of NOWHERE though!  Thank youuuuuuu desert!

Arriving at another point took forever and I couldn’t help but being famished after workout out my abs driving that huge car over all that rough terrain!  I get tossed around so much! Yikes!

I had a laughing cow/hummus/veggies wrap for lunch with some grapes and a Lemonade Vitamin Water Zero.  Is this stuff even any better than drinking Gatorade/Powerade, even with the natural sugars (however natural they can be…)?

Filled to the max…even with Portobello Mushroom pieces!

  

I snacked on a piece of Zucchini Banana Bread mid afternoon and headed off to my counseling appointment.  We’ve been working on ID’ing ANTS and saying out loud that they’re occurring.  Very interesting to say the least for me!

I could have eaten my arm by the time I got home and whipped together the fastest salad on the planet:

I’m sure you can see everything that’s in there…nothing to rave about, unless you’re talking about the PB Pretzel Nuggets I ate afterwards…with some Honey O’s and dried fruit…times two.  (or more…oops).  It was that kind of night.  I just need to go to sleep…

Besides, I’m in some hop’n pain today in the foot department:

Icing down the foot that got attacked by red ants yesterday and is now two times its size.  Just awesome.

Sleep.  Hopefully tonight will be better than the last few cause they have been horrible…Oiy.

Exciting stuff tomorrow I can’t wait to share with you!  Think Wild Things and Swanky Clubs… ;)

Doozy…

Such a long day…10hrs can seem like they last forever!  So, quick post as I run off to bed.  I’m hoping to have some awesome photos for you tomorrow; I’ll be in the mountains!  But only after doing some construction training…yeah, awesome.  At 7am to make matters even better!

Sunrise anyone?  Absolutely beautiful!

 

Sometimes waking up at 4.30am isn’t so bad…

Sure can be blinding though!

Not bad of pictures for my camera phone eh?  Yeah!  That’s why I paid over $200 for it almost a year ago!

Anyhow, no picture of breakfast this morning as it was a frozen green smoothie with vanilla whey protein powder, frozen banana and mango, spinach and USVAB.  Along w/ a piece of Zucchini Banana Bread and 1/2T pb.  I know, I’m boring.  Don’t worry, tomorrow will be different since I’m out of frozen bananas…the horror!

I was super tired and needed a boost this morning after finishing work so I snacked on a Peppermint Stick Luna Bar before hunkering down and doing data work…I’ve rather be OUTSIDE!

After a few hours I finally settled down for lunch and had a simple veg/hummus/laughing cow cheese sandwich with a berry medley on the side.

 

I spent the afternoon doing more work and snacking on some chocolate covered dried fruits and edamame and some Natural O’s.

Then after talking to some awesome bloggers I did some fitness DVD’s by SHAPE that focused on glutes, hips and thighs and 1/2 of another Abs DVD by them.  Whew!

And after I couldn’t stop my legs from shaking, I settled on dinner.  I wasn’t very hungry so I had an egg and egg white with some veggies and salsa on top, with a peach and unpictured grapes on the side.

Sorry I’m so boring the past few days…hopefully things will start picking up.

But just wanted to say that I hope you guys enjoyed the quote I put on the blog yesterday by Geneen Roth.  Let me know what you think if you didn’t comment yesterday!!!