the gym

lately i have been trying to frequent myself at the gym....if a gym is what you can call it. it's just a small section of a strip mall and has couple rows of treadmills, ellipticals, and some other machines with a bunch of weights in the back. but it's cheap and it does the job. and as i pound away the steps on the tread mill, i've come up with my own "gym trends" as an attempt to avoid the boredom of working out when the scenery never changes.

it seems like every time i go, no matter what time of day, there are always a few kinds of people represented at our small gym. there's always someone-who-dresses-in-anything-that-i-would-think-would-be-very-uncomfortable....for example, jeans, sweatshirts, or polo shirts. then there's always the-guy-who-is-truckin-along-on-the-treadmill-sweatin-up-a-storm-and-wears-a-gray-shirt-which-really-shows-how-hard-he-is-sweating-and-working.....and they also seem to be the ones that make me feel guilty that i'm just jogging along at a comfortable pace. there's always a lady-that-can-walk-and-walk-and-walk-for-time-on-end-without-seeming-to-get-bored and the guy-who-can-run-on-the-treadmill-and-watch-the-tv-at-the-same-time (which is a pretty hard feat cuase the tvs are directly above the row of treadmills. i tried one time and almost fell off like a dizzy uncoordinated runner). and then there's me....i represent the does-a-girl-really-sweat-that-much-or-get-that-red-in-the-face-just-from-working-out-for-20 minutes? group.

every time. every group is represented. never fail.

and i'm not criticizing at all cause each and every one has the will power to be there, which we all know is pretty tough. actually, i'd just say a little "good job" to whoever my neighboring treadmiller might be......but i feel like i may get a look that says, stop talking to me during my misery, or keep your sweat to yourself.....so i'll just keep jogging along with my headphones on.

happenings of my life

this is where last weekend brought me....back to iowa for my sister's state volleyball tournament. really, how could i resist watching good volleyball, especially with my little sis is playing? nevermind the long drive by myself....i guess you could say i take after my parents. :)

i can now say that we have had our first day of snow here in willowbrook. as much as i resisted it, even i will say that it was a very beautiful snow...it wasn't that cold outside, the wind was not blowing, it was coming down nice and soft like in a snow globe, and most importantly...most of it didn't stick on the ground. now if only the rest of winter could be exactly like that......needless to say, i had a happy husband.

well, my dog walking days are over and i'm keeping myself busy with some math tutoring a couple afternoons a week and then if i'm lucky, some substitute teaching. because my phone isn't exactly ringing off the hook for sub jobs, i got a tip from an 8th grader's mom of a part time office admin position. i applied for that, so we'll see if that will work out. otherwise, starting in january i will be begin night classes for the masters in teaching with certification program at aurora university! it's a 2 year program and in the end, i'll come out with a master's degree and a teaching certificate. getting to this point since moving here has been quite a whirlwind of emotions and questions, but i'm just glad to be moving forward and hopefully making more progress towards a career that i enjoy.....and just a job in general. :)

k 9

this weekend matt and i decided take a shot at our amateur photography skills again. this time we went to the forest preserve that we pass every time we go to church or school. we were almost disappointed when we started walking down the path and ran into a leash-less dog area. we didn't have a dog or a permit so we found a map and headed a different direction. it was quite chilly, but at least we don't have any snow yet....




speaking of dogs, last week i expanded my resume since being here in the western suburbs by adding dog-walker to the list. yes, that's right...professional or not, i was paid to be a dog-walker. so i don't sound too desperate, a teacher at school had part of her house damaged by a fire. her dogs had to be confined to a smaller area while the repairs are done and she wanted someone to let the dogs out while the workers were in the house. and that's where i came into the picture.

i never realized how much of an adventure walking dogs can be......between not looking awkward doing a uncomfortable-paced walk/jog b/c the dogs keep pulling you faster and faster no matter how quickly you go.....or the ability to start conversations with people b/c they want to pet the dogs......or keeping them from ripping the leash out of your hand when they see another dog across the block or a flock of geese in an open lawn.....or the ever glorious job of being the pooper scooper......i guess it's all part of the job.