I want to watch Olympic curling. In Italy. In 2026. A PhD celebration trip. Also near my 40th birthday.
Credit: Google
…originally this post was titled in the plural sense. Bucket List Additions. However, at the time of this posting, I am TDY to a location with somehow even more humidity than I’m accustomed to yet also slightly (maybe 1 degree) cooler. I can’t tell you anything about this location because I must use it as fodder for future posts otherwise I would have nothing to share here.
On the bright side, since I turned in my manuscript last week in a rushed attempt to capture everything I had planned to incorporate this week, I have a little time on my hands to brainstorm more bucket list items. In the meantime…I’ll return soon with adventure stories!
_________________
I ask you –
Have you ever watched the Olympics live?
Would you be more likely to go watch the summer or winter Olympics?
For my fellow bloggers, tell me about your idea-generating endeavors!
An ode to personal growth, making tough choices, and speaking my truth. Wherever there is – as we have no idea where life will take us, why, or who it’s surrounded by.
3rd grade!
Belief first, correction later. I saw this on a post and it hit me like a ton of bricks. How often do I correct mini before I believe what she is saying? Guilty. We probably all do this – we fact check others before acknowledging they have a right to their opinion and, more importantly, a right to their feelings. The post went on to say our children need us to sit in the discomfort with them, to know we care about their feelings, PRIOR to reasoning with them. How many people know anxiety is not reasonable? Hands high. I don’t need someone to say my thoughts are not realistic, I’m well aware they’re not!, what I need is reassurance I will be ok.
Along the lines of being ok – middle of last week, I very nearly lost my life. Ok ok, so I’m dramatic. As I’ve stated before, the final year of my dissertation is comprised of 15 week semesters. Last week was Wk 14. Until it wasn’t. I received an email stating Friday, 16 August was the due date for both Wk 14 and 15. WHICH MEANT…I was required to submit my manuscript more than a week before I intended.
One week. Just one week. Sounds minimal, right? If you don’t keep meticulous planning calendars and structure your entire existence around writing a 600+ page manuscript, then sure, it’s probably minimal. Not for me! So, I cried. I got frustrated. A little angry, too, perhaps. Then I cancelled all my plans and got busy. Suffice to say, in 3 days, I completed a manuscript worthy of expedited submission and now we wait. 14 weeks, 296 pages, 69.3K words. Easy, right?!
The good news is I get an unexpected break. And I purchased a pair of shoes as a reward. Short of the submission being classified as an official failure, I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in.
Correction: Hahaha I jest. I made another miscalculation and I don’t have a week break. It appears Wk 14 and 15 are jammed together (aka were due Friday) because the next course starts the following Monday. i.e., today. Wonderful. Lovely.
“There” is wherever life takes you and I’m just along for the ride, it seems.
Wk 14/15: added 16 pages
P.S. this is the final iteration of the chart. It served its purpose and now I feel like it’s more of a chore/unneeded pressure to include it. Thanks for playing along. Surely I can find something else to entertain you. Maybe I should be monitoring my stress levels more?
________________
I ask you –
Are you a corrector or a listener?
How surprised would you have been?
Tell me about your most recent unexpected event!
(The post Wherever There Is 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.)
Congratulations, loyal, kind readers! With your readership, emotional support, and massive grace, Running on Fumes is now 5 years old!
In true celebratory fashion, I’m choosing to celebrate as any 5 yr old might: by saying (writing) what I want to write!
First, in response to a prevalent post I’ve seen on multiple social media platforms but which I choose not to share here for obvious reasons, I have this to say: What’s more interesting is the fact these “startling stats” are only available from Jan 2023. Therefore, to be truly valuable to the disconcerting citizen, and even more so to the average citizen who won’t investigate these stats and chooses to take them out of context, a quick recap that pits one presidency against another is not the definition of unified, citizen, or, dare I say, Christian.
Second, I’ve been listening to The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast with increasing insight into society’s challenges and how to be an overcomer despite the issues. Might I recommend episode 467. Plagiarized by Harvard’s President. Not only was it enlightening but also provoked me to reconsider some of my own opinions.
Finally, I owe you a few weeks of exercise totals versus page count. Wk 11 includes about 12 hours of drive time to my favorite vacation spot. Somehow, I experienced no motion sickness and was able to write to my heart’s content.
Wk 11: additional 36 pages!
However, the drive back was less productive. I was sick fairly consistently so only added maybe 1 page. My goal was 60 min per day, but, again, I wasn’t as productive as I had planned. Instead, I ate gelato, cookies, and ran nearly daily! Good tradeoff.
Wk 12: additional 6 pages
The semester is winding down and I’m frantically finishing up last minute details to hopefully get approval to start the actual research portion of this dissertation in the fall. Whilst on vacation, our group was approached by a researcher from the local university. At first, I stated no thanks to completing her survey, then I had a change of heart. Alas, if I was doing survey research, arguably the most difficult type, then I would want kind people to help me. We spent maybe 10 minutes with her, patiently answering her questions (marketing-related), then went on our way. It provides a different perspective when you realize all the surveys and such actually might be influencing someone’s education.
Regardless, one more day of laundry and grocery shopping then it’s back to the work grind.
_________________
I ask you –
If you’re a fellow blogger, how many years have you been writing?
Do you have any podcast recommendations?
Share what you’ve been up to this past week!
(The post 5 Years with RoF! 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.
It’s that time again – the one where I recycle a few older posts to support the time I need to recharge along the coastline. Hope you enjoy. I’ll be back soon! -Kel
A small voice calls to me from my sleep. Do you want coffee, Kel? Doesn’t matter that it’s 2am, 5am, mid-afternoon. I always answer yes. Short of labeling it an addiction, coffee is comfort. It’s my siren song.
In a vain attempt at creating coffee shop-worthy drinks, I made my own cold brew. Not half bad. However, the espresso beans were a bit past their shelf life so it turned out somewhat bitter. I still drank it. Then I ordered new beans.
Chicka D’s, of course
Also, I had a small issue with remembering to complete my fasted blood work so I was forced to reschedule which resulted in a nearly lunchtime appointment. Fasted. Starving. Not in a great overall mood. That particular day called for a third caffeinated beverage, mainly as a reward for not harming anyone.
I don’t know how some people do it. How do they survive without these magical beans? I never want to find out.
________________________
I ask you –
How much coffee do you drink per day?
Does the need for coffee ever wake you up?
Tell me about the last time you forgot an important appointment!
(The post They Beckon Me first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
When the weeks are dragging on and you need a few interesting things to keep you wanting to get up, do stuff, adult. This is getting ridiculous.
to the water park!
Found this fascinating story regarding one of Sheppard AFB’s very own Airmen doing big things to benefit countless individuals: Air Force Tourniquet Belt.
I say “Call me if you need me!” a lot for someone who rarely, if ever, answers the phone when anyone calls. It’s a formality. Just text me like a normal person, ok?
Admittedly, I am the most ignorant person I’ve ever met. Ask me about the day I walked around with a huge vape thing in my hand because I picked it up outside thinking it was an old battery pack. It was pink. I probably should have known something was up.
Then, a staff member told me they had accepted a jewel in the lost and found and asked how to return it to its owner. Jewel. Upon further questioning, along the lines of who loses a jewel, it was carefully explained to me someone lost a brand of vape. How was I supposed to know?
Then, it took nearly 2 hours for McK and I to figure out how to put gas in the government vehicles. In our defense, the instructions were unclear, there were inoperable pumps with obscure signage (read: none), and we’ve never done this before! We lead from the front, for sure! However, I do appreciate the consistent vehicle drive-bys who didn’t ask if we needed help until the final task was completed. I’m not being sarcastic – I think we would have been affronted if some…man…had tried to help us. We are independent!
The requisite activity versus pages tracker:
Additional pages: 23!
We’re strongest in our struggles. Which is probably not how the saying goes but it feels as if everything leading up to vacation is a struggle.
_________________
I ask you –
Do you prefer calls or texts?
On a scale of 1 to who-let-you-out-of-your-cage, how ignorant are you?
Tell me your thoughts on independence!
(The post Pre-Vacation first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
I recognize I already made a post about preposterous things but I have a last minute addition: can you believe there’s published material not available as an e-book? Me neither! I was forced to dig for this book on the deep, dark webs just to find an affordable edition. Unfortunately, there’s no Ctrl+F option here.
some light reading required
Pleasant observation: 100 pages and counting! But who is? It seemed to be the first major hurdle: surpassing the 100 pg mark. As most dissertations are 300-400 pgs, I have many more pages to write before I sleep. Circa Robert Frost’ish. I’ve just recalled I’m expecting another textbook via mail because I had (read, was forced) to utilized interlibrary loan to obtain the book; it’s being shipped to me from my university’s library in Virginia. Oh yay, another book to peruse in my spare hours.
Relatedly: “Waiting is the answer we least want to receive because, in our hyper-rushed, instant gratification world, it doesn’t feel like a real answer.” Waiting isn’t really in my vocabulary. I don’t like to wait. I like to go! Alas, finding time to wait seems to be a struggle. Always the conundrum. On a recent leadership traits exercise with others supervisors, etc., we were instructed to choose the top trait (out of 20 options) we value in our own leaders, then choose our own strength and limitation. My top choice for my leaders was communication. My self-described strength was problem-solving; the trait I’m the worst at…patience. As I explained it, problem solving and patience are the light and dark of the world, nearly completely opposites. I’m a do’er, a fixer, a get-it-done-now; thus, I have very little patience for waiting.
I know I owe some weeks worth of trackers –
As I spent some time away, here’s the recap for activity vs pages written:
Wk 5: additional 12 pages
Wk 6: additional 5 pages
Wk 7: additional 20 pages
_________________
I ask you –
Do you prefer hard copy or digital books?
Thoughts on leadership trait analysis?
Tell me if you have patience in spades. Teach me your ways, Oh Wise One.
Definition: Cheap grace basically teaches that we can win our race without cost or commitment to training.
I read the above statement again and again. And again. And maybe again, too.
Some call it discipline, I rather think of it as escapism. My friend and neighbor came upon me walking one evening after I had spent nearly 90 mins working on a new section of my manuscript. He might see my walking the same stretch of roadway nearly daily as discipline when, in reality, it’s just a convenient path to unwind my mind and seek (literally) new words to bring to life this idea in my head.
Conundrum: I need access to a setting, a group of people for my study, yet I’m not certain how this comes about. Organically? Do I show up and sweet talk my way into their good graces? Cold calling? Exactly how does this happen, inquiring minds must know.
Unrelatedly, remember a previous post about getting kicked out of meetings for laughing too much? Real life possibility. Cue the most recent meeting where a group titled Pheasants Forever was mentioned. I snorted laughing. Later, thankfully after the meeting concluded, I asked if this was a real group. Indeed, it is. But better was the question by an equally funny coworker who asked “Do the peasants fly?” I nearly peed on myself when I retorted how peasants are people!
Anyway, cheap grace.
_________________
I ask you –
How would you define cheap grace?
Are you guilty of engaging in an activity to seek escape?
Pheasants Forever – ever heard of them?!
(The post Cheap Grace first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
The intent was to share here how I competed in a recent Mini Triathlon. But you won’t be reading a recap as I decided the day prior to forego the event in lieu of keeping myself alive. Slightly dramatic but not by much. Originally when I considered it, the weather had been hovering around the 75° mark and it was raining near daily. Then, summer arrived. The projected high on the day of the Mini Tri was 99°. Despite it starting around 78-ish°, the humidity was rapidly increasing.
All this to say, maybe next time. It’s not worth chancing it. Nonetheless, I was out there doing director things and playing witness to the other able-bodied individuals with Triathlon goals. Base support was awesome, we recruited different groups of people to help facilitate the event as it spanned multiple smaller events and a large footprint. Personally, I love seeing our team get together and DO outside the office.
Team Fitness!
Also, I’m trying something new. I want to keep track of my weekly exercise activities and the addition of manuscript pages in an effort to see valued change 1 yr from now, when I project completing this doctoral journey. My plan is to add a screenshot of my weekly activities via the Garmin app with a numerical indicator of manuscript pages. (I don’t have an activity list for Wk 2 but I know I added 9 pgs.)
For example, the below was from Wk 3:
Additional pages: 18
Despite the fact these variables probably have zero correlation, it’s an interesting concept to me. I like lists and comparing things, although not typically numbers because I’m not number-y, I’m word-y. As it stands, I can’t imagine there will be anything to this beyond being able to look back at it, mainly because I don’t run/cycle/walk between 4-6am because that’s when I’m writing. Additionally, I don’t run/walk/cycle between 5-8pm because it’s either too hot, raining (as of late), or I’m working on my manuscript. Therefore, my work day is primarily when I engage in exercise so one rarely precludes me from doing the other, except on the weekends when I attempt to do both. Since I’m not tracking just the weekends, the data is mostly garbage stats. Thank you for listening while I worked all this out.
Nonetheless, it gives me something to look forward to so without further ado –
Running on Fumes 
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