Long live volleyball! I just wish I didn’t hurt myself so easily. Yes, I own knee pads. Several pairs. But did I remember to bring them and put them on? Clearly not.
My kind doctor said I had 6 months to fix my high cholesterol levels. In his defense, he’s given me 3 yrs thus far. The good stuff is getting better but it’s still overall too high for comfort. I blame my parents. In the meantime, I’ve made some easy switches – less fat, more good stuff. Turns out turkey bacon is really good, and I definitely enjoy balsamic vinegar on my salad. More avocado, less fried stuff. We’ll see what happens. I’m always up for an experiment!
Me: I know it’s Saturday morning at 0500, nearing FY end, so let me check my email and really test these new anxiety meds. My brain: Dondnekndicngmeixnwkffiend🤯. Long story short – now I will worry and feel ill the remainder of the day for forgetting for 4 months! to order something I agreed to.
Volunteers, team of 2
Definitely needed a run to clear my head from that disaster. Later in the day, I saw the victim of my forgetfulness and apologized profusely. She didn’t seem to mind much, which was a big change from my anxious brain telling me to escape. Ugh, such a liar.
_________________
I ask you –
Do you enjoy any healthy alternatives to your favorite foods?
What is your go-to activity to clear your head?
Tell me about forgetting something important!
(The postI’m a Forgetter first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
I’m purchasing this headwear for use at an upcoming graduation. When I found out an ex-husband and a few old boyfriends would be in attendance, incognito is now the theme.
Credit: Amazon
New office furniture arrived. I’m so thankful for Parts. She loves to put stuff together. Me? Well, let’s just say it’s a disaster.
I love ice cream. Not surprisingly. And I still need to try this flavor!
I’ve waited forever for football! And since I have a little time to watch it – don’t call me, I’ll call you, ummm, never.
Credit: Google
_________________
I ask you –
What should I wear for further incognito-ness? All black? Black with red heels is my standard.
Torch Athena Rally was truly incredible. I laughed. Cried. And left feeling empowered and ready to push change, not only within my career but on the entire installation. What an opportunity!
A rare opportunity to walk/run the Riverwalk
Light the Path
Maybe I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. All I want is a voice at the table. Those were my words to my previous supervisor. He asked what I needed from him – I said “I just want a voice at the table.” Lately, I’ve been empowered to understand I’ve entered a new chapter in my life, most assuredly in my workplace. And, now, I’m the voice at the table. I no longer challenge someone else to speak for me. I speak for others under my purview.
I recall the first time I won an installation-level award and someone who knew me from my first week in the squadron stated “You’ve come a long way from the quiet person who would walk the halls during lunch”.
During my TDY to San Antonio, I found myself walking the halls during lunch. Maybe it’s where I’m most comfortable, maybe I just needed some exercise. But here’s an indicator you can always find me walking the halls.
probably not the quiet person though
But if I hadn’t been walking, I wouldn’t have found a local coffee shop inside the building!
Midweek, the whole group, all 12ish of us, went to dinner. At 6:30pm. Approximately 30 mins before my bedtime. Brutal. As I wanted around the hotel to leave for the restaurant, I really wanted to go to bed. In fact, I would have rather done nearly anything except go to dinner with a group of not-really-strangers. I don’t like eating in front of people. Weird. Yeah yeah yeah. In fact, eating with people ranks up there with pumping my own gas, going into convenience stores, and being near dumpsters. I just don’t like it.
Yes, I recognize these are so odd but it’s just my roots.
Gray, to be perfectly clear.
_________________
I ask you –
How often do you walk for exercise?
How late is too late for dinner?
What’s your natural hair color?
(The post Roots first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
Disclaimer: I’m fine being a homebody. It’s where I’m comfortable. It has my favorite coffee. My favorite people. It’s mine. On occasion, however, I’m forced (mostly willingly) to go out and do things.
Like these things –
Granted, they were fun people so it wasn’t a hardship. Loved making new friends, putting faces to names, and fighting the good fight.
Followed by really really really hot things –
There’s no words for how hot it was. Maybe even Hotter ‘n Hell. A week in San Antonio working on a handbook followed by a mad dash home to lead the yearly rest stop. Definitely missing my wingwoman. It was a whirlwind – and it’s not over yet! Back to San Antonio today!
_________________
I ask you –
Are you a homebody?
How far have you ever ridden a bike?
Tell me what you have going on this week!
(The post Hom(ies) first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
The sword is ours! As this was our first work day back from vacation, it was definitely as memorable as possible.
And then there was this silliness! I don’t know any other job that encourages you to dress up at Batman complete with mask and cape, then pose with your sword. I love my job! Subsequently, although I don’t yet have the photo to prove it, I won the installation quarterly award where I proudly hoisted the sword in victory.
Truly, the victory belongs to my fitness team. I couldn’t do any of this without them. Indeed, they make me look good because, on my own, I don’t hold a candle (or a sword) to them. They make my job worth it.
——————————–
I ask you –
How difficult is it for you when returning from vacation?
Can regular people be knighted?
Tell me about your most awesome award!
(The postWe Won! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
1. This shoulder pain/impingement crap is for the birds. I know I should have stopped doing all the things when it started but I didn’t. And now I pay the price. Ibuprofen, here I come!
2. There is not enough time to write everything I want (need) to write. My desk is often scattered with at least 2 dog-eared textbooks, a few highlighters, at least 1 coffee cup, and roughly 24 open browser tabs. Fairly certain the operating system is drowning in cookies. I like cookies!
Credit: unknown
3. After moving back to Texas from Virginia, it has taken nearly 5 years to make the same amount of money. I don’t have a point in sharing this, just saying it took 5 years. There’s probably some statistical significance to it but my brain is tired.
4. As a budding researcher, I have a lot of issues with articles like this which proceed to claim significance in research studies without giving the full picture or context. I am not suggesting mindfulness and meditation are overly positive or negative, I am saying people should do their homework. But no one makes money when people are well informed.
5. July running was pretty good! I haven’t dived into the full stats but this was impressive for me considering it’s been so hot.
_________________
I ask you –
Do you have chronic shoulder pain? Any suggestions?
How was running or walking for you in July?
Tell me your August goals!
(The post July Recap first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
2nd iteration of the necessary repost. Not to worry, loyal readers, I will return soon. Sunkissed, smiling, and (still) slightly frazzled. Enjoy! -Kel
Sometimes we need a reminder that many (most) of us are surrounded by people and the importance of being a leader is one not to be taken lightly. As it is appraisal season in the fairytale land of federal government employment, it’s time for me to administer them. While my own was a pleasant experience and nearly always has been, predecessors have royally convoluted the process and make it seem like a dirty word. It can be disheartening to build trust and camaraderie when employees are fearful, distrustful, and generally blah (which is definitely a scientific word). Often I find myself correcting others when I’m referred to as a manager. That’s not me. I strive to be a leader of people and a manager of programs. People are our mission; programs are our resource.
All this being said – work has posed some challenges lately. Seems this course on human resources and the legalities surrounding it have taken a toll on my decision-making skills. Not necessarily in a bad way; just that I’ve repeatedly questioned whether or not I’m doing the right thing. Turns out I think I have. But still.
So far, these are my (and by “my” I mean I didn’t do much…the team did) shining moments: hosted a staff meeting that included a rousing game of volleyball of which I am (ongoing) healing from; established 24/7 access to a gym that did not previously have this amenity, and completed a 3 week streak of consistent call-ins yet managed to recover. I can’t understand why my award-writing skills aren’t cutting it. Just another example of how supervising people and managing programs can be rewarding in itself.
this photo really helps the abused look
As for the volleyball part of this post, we’ve decided to develop a team complete with custom shirts, wildly inappropriate shorts, and substantially-lacking coach mentorship. At this point in the proverbial game, we have about 11 months to start practicing. Nothing can stand in our way!
I’m leaning toward these shorts
Until I receive the phone call asking if someone can bring in their inflatable gymnastics mat. Do what?
_____________________
I ask you –
Do you supervise anyone in your workplace?
Have you ever played volleyball?
Tell me your thoughts on leadership versus management.
“Keep Showing Up” is the phrase Des Linden, an American long distance runner, and previous winner of the Boston Marathon uses to share how persistence and literal grind kept her working toward her goals.
Case in point –
While most youth and young adults return to the school routine in the coming weeks, it is not lost on me that this will be my final August in school (committee granting). Although I’m a career-college student, I have future sights set on leadership development opportunities and other federal civil service broadening goals. The support of children and even adult children from their parents is also not lost on me. I remember the summer before I entered college for the first time – my spouse at the time attended a preliminary day of getting paperwork in order, participating in meet-and-greets, getting to know the campus, etc. It was weird how each time the students and parents/spouses/support system groups came back together, I never saw my spouse. After the third interaction, I began to get worried. He never called or tried to find me. 6+ hours later, when the day was finished, I walked out to the parking lot and found him inside the vehicle, casually sitting there. I asked what happened and was everything ok. He stated (paraphrasing) he didn’t want to be there around weirdos with goals in life and he was bored so he left. In my stunned silence, the feeling of being unsupported was overwhelming. I don’t think he ever understood what education and goals meant to me.
Fast forward some years, I enthusiastically helped someone enroll in college for the first time. Maybe I made it seem easy, maybe I talked it up too much, maybe I’m just the “weirdo” but their first semester seemed to go well. The next semester not so much. Toward the middle/end of the semester, I noticed they weren’t talking about their classes or having typical school-centered conversations yet we’d meet at the same places we always did, after our classes ended. Eventually, it was disclosed they hadn’t been attending any classes at all…driving to campus, parking, then never exiting the vehicle. No communication with their professors, or me. Just stopped showing up. Again, in my stunned silence, I was heartbroken. Why wasn’t I told? What would make someone I cared about feel as if they couldn’t tell me college just wasn’t for them? In my heart, I know it created a rift I’ve never been able to fill.
Team Fitness, who keeps showing up
To this day, I have no answers. And that’s ok. But when I see/hear/notice parents supporting those who value education, whether or not they have their own, I’m left feeling comforted. Because they keep showing up.
_________________
I ask you –
Is there a phrase you believe embodies your life philosophy? Mine is “Get it together!”
Do you have young or adult children getting ready to return to school?
Tell me your ideal role in facilitating education for someone in your life.
Like to the office across the way, the one with a window to the hallway and very bright overhead, automatic lighting. Can we turn these down? Yes, I got the job.
While I was away in VA a few weeks ago, galivanting with the crabs and such, I won an award. Lovingly, Parts stepped up to accept it; unbeknownst to me, there was much fanfare and laughter associated with her acceptance. Not only was it announced that “Spare Parts” would be accepting it, but she also convinced the Commander to cover my name AND now the Chief will be submitting the above photo to the Wing for future consideration. As Parts tells it, since I abandoned her for weeks (slight exaggeration) then I either owed her a puppy or a sword. More to come.
Obviously we have a thing for old trucks
Never mind us though – Mini has surely been going places! From her time in Tennessee then to California and everywhere in between, she’s quite the traveler. As this may be her final summer in California, the adventures have been ramped up, from the Rio Grande to Belmont Park and Sea World to a dip in the Pacific Ocean and a trip to the Sequoia National Park, her traveling expanses make my head spin. What a wonderful life to live. I know driving is not her favorite way to travel; however, so much more can be seen when compared to flying and I love this stage in her life. The girl just wants to meet new people and go on adventures!
_________________
I ask you –
Do you have anyone in your life that encourages silly behavior? If not, you should!
Of the places I mentioned above, how many have you been to?
Tell me your favorite place to visit or a place you were excited to see!
(The post This Girl Is… first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
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