I cannot count the number of times I heard “it’s a privilege to do this”. This refers to the 24 hour run/walk vigil held annually to remember the more than 81,000 POW/MIAs across several conflicts. Indeed, it was a privilege to serve on this year’s committee to plan, orchestrate, and accomplish a ceremony that would do justice to our POW/MIAs. When I think about my long 24-hours, I am incredibly humbled by knowing many gave their every hour, their days, their weeks, and their very lives to our country. 24 hours is nothing compared to their sacrifice.
As if my team and I had nothing better to do, we also accomplished the 9/11 Run to Remember/Air Force Families Forever 1-mile event at the culmination of the 24-hr event. I need someone to pump my brakes.
Team Fitness
Parts and I have been going through a Bible plan titled “When serving leaves you tired”. Timely. One main point was admitting some days you will leave needs unmet. This was a tough notion for me because I ask myself each day have I done everything I could? And, it sounded like saying no, I haven’t is an acceptable answer. But it must be. At the end of the 24 hrs, I was exhausted, “peopled-out”, and craving silence. Looking back, I loved hearing the stories of new people I met and I hoped I was the listening ear they needed. Maybe some felt as if I didn’t meet their needs that day. And it’s ok.
But I think as long as I meet more needs than don’t, I’ve done all I can.
________________________
I ask you –
Do you require time away to regroup after spending your day being around people?
March movement totals weren’t too bad considering this new age bracket. 40+. It looks like I decreased on the two-a-day workouts, but it was probably for the best.
In other news, another season of intramural volleyball is upon us. Allow me to introduce The Shiny Ones –
Our losing streak is alive and well. Oh well. I must say, though, the team has come a long way and definitely looks more comfortable on the court. The elusive winning streak may or may not come, but, if fun is the intention, then they win every time.
________________
I ask you –
What are the odds The Shiny Ones win at least 1 game this season? About the same as the Bears winning the Super Bowl next year.
Two weeks ago, I completed a 5-week baseline workout plan via Garmin. So much for your last post on rest.
Last week, I began another 5-week series of workouts destined to test my overall strength and grit. Unrelated, I’ve seen the word grit mentioned no less than 3x at work in as many days. Maybe it’s making a comeback?
Results so far indicate I’m vertically challenged, probably don’t eat enough to power said workouts, and are overall incredibly difficult.
As evidence, here is a collection of whackadoo hairstyles I’ve implemented lately –
Alas, the running continues, even with weather fluctuations and holidays. I average 2.5-3.5 miles per run. Nothing fancy, just basic movement. Alongside the strength plan, I aim for several runs/week but sometimes I only get a single or double. Meh.
As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, at the moment I have plans to run a 5k with a local group. But those plans belong to today me. Not the me who has to wake up tomorrow, get dressed, eat, and brave whatever weather is in store. Maybe I’m still resting.
_____________________
I ask you –
Will you be partaking in the Thanksgiving Day 5k tradition?
I found this stupid funny meme that said something along the lines of an airline PA system asking for a doctor to help someone write a 500-word abstract in less than 5 minutes, ending with…finally, I’m the doctor they need! Paraphrasing obviously. The meme disappeared before I could screen grab it so now you’re stuck with my pathetic recall. But you get the idea!
In all seriousness, this is a tough time. I’ve been officially furloughed but with excepted service for 31 days at the time of this writing (more by the time you read this). This means I go to work everyday for no immediate pay. Sure, I’ll get back pay when it’s all said and done but my immediate needs are burdensome – things like buying groceries and putting gas in my car. More than me, I lead a team of 7 excepted employees and 9 furloughed employees who are feeling the immediate pain of this situation. They work for hourly pay and may not have a savings account to rely on. They have families to feed. They need gas to fill their vehicles to drive to the job that isn’t paying them.
I think the most common misconception is overlooking the government shutdown as something where people may think ‘I don’t know anyone affected by it.’ You know me. And I know hundreds of others who are affected. These people are my team, my friends, my coworkers.
I work in fitness which, if anyone stays updated, has taken a front row seat to nearly all other updates, changes, and restructuring in the military. This means we are more important than ever in creating, building, and sustaining a “fit to fight” military workforce. I’m not personally opposed to the changes in the standards as I have nearly always understood why a fit military is imperative to success. It’s also imperative to a healthy, long life with your family and friends. This may sound callous but please hear my heart when I ask how many overweight people have you met who lived past 70? Do your own research. Maybe you don’t care to live past 70, but I guarantee there’s someone in your life who does.
The fitness background I’ve mentioned gives you context to why excepted service is important even during a government shutdown. The military continue to serve, paycheck or not. Therefore, my team must be available to serve them. It’s more than opening the doors to a building each day. It is ensuring they have the testing supplies available, can continue to self-improve, and, some would say equally important, building morale.
You see, fitness isn’t just working out. For some, it is therapy. For some, it is the only thing between depression and suicide. Maybe that sounds dramatic, but I can assure you it is not. The benefits of exercise surpass nearly every known disease and have the power to reverse it. True story. So for anyone doubting the importance of fitness in today, tomorrow, and next year’s world, there is statistical evidence of its importance.
The U.S. needs people who do the work I do. It needs people who do the work my team does. I am no one without them. And they deserve paychecks to support the military and their own families. The next time you vote, the next time you consider who the shutdown affects, please think of me. Please think of the single mom who shows up everyday at 0445 to help others improve their fitness levels so they can be fit to fight. Today, the only fight I want to have is the one where every employee is paid to do the job they took an oath to obtain. These federal employees did. I did. But somehow it feels forgotten.
________________
I ask you –
Did you know over 300,000 federal employees are working without a paycheck during this government shutdown?
Do you know who is still receiving a check? Be informed.
How long before the NFL bans any helmet to helmet contact, specifically the jovial nod/tap between players? Guess TBI has only one cause.
39 years: how long it took me to commit to placing stickers in a notebook.
How long before I’m famous for my humor and clever remarks? Answer: not long at all! I was privileged to introduce Mike Super for an Air Force Live event. Mini and I really enjoyed the show, received a t-shirt, and got to take photos with the greatest magician/illusionist I’ve ever seen.
How long can I keep up with these two-a-day workouts? Answer. As of this writing, almost the entirety of October! Nothing like a furlough to remind you that you’re capable of hard things.
_________________
I ask you –
Question and answer: how long (fill in the blank).
(The post How long…? first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
The same week of the awards ceremony, we departed for our annual summer trip to South Padre Island!
I tried to host a staff meeting but only mini showed.
The food –
Finally, I must mention Chilo’s Cheesecakes. Chilo and his beautiful wife, Regina, are bakers. A few years ago, I tried one of his cheesecakes at a restaurant on the island. Someone mentioned you can find all his flavors at their storefront on Port Isabella. Alas, I got busy and never went. This time, I made it a point to stop. Terrible idea.
Six pieces of cheesecake and $50 later, I exited with goodies intact.
The photos aren’t great because I couldn’t wait to sample the cheesecakes. In no particular order, I purchased: Pistachio, Pina Colada, Cookies & Cream, Key Lime Pie, Key Lime Cheesecake, and Lemon Blueberry.
So now I’ll be dreaming of going back to Chilo’s for more cheesecake. Winning!
Final thought: entirely random Have I ever mentioned the time Parts called me and immediately asked me if I remembered the name of the coffee shop I like to go to near my alma mater and I excitedly replied Yes! I thought she was going to bring me coffee! Instead, she said she’d been in an accident and needed me to come. I felt really bad for my initial reaction. Definitely not winning sister award for that debacle.
_________________
I ask you –
What are some of your latest wins?
(The post Winning first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)
I have a brilliant idea to make the government millions of dollars. Every time someone drives on the installation while colors plays, they must pay a fine. At least $100.
Leadership lesson 101: Take your weaknesses and delegate them! At least, that’s the moral of the story I took from it.
For the last several months, every Friday at work, something strange has happened in my presence. From an active shooter situation to a fire alarm to, most recently, the mule (Kawasaki-type, not animal-type) catching fire while I was driving it – you can see the common denominator is me. Yours truly. It’s become a running joke about how something happens to me every Friday. I’m beginning to think people are avoiding me, if not for my reputation then definitely for fear of being tangled up in my shenanigans. Who could blame them?
So long as I’m not driving a vehicle on base, I am very trustworthy! One year you’re the best supervisor in AETC, the next you’re a pyro. Geez, how the mighty fall. At the time of this post, the damage repair costs were nearly $1,000. Maybe I’ll set up my own check points to charge people who drive during colors. Then, I can put the money toward my fitness financial losses.
Every time my team pulls off a big event, I think damn these guys are incredible. Do you know why I win awards? Because of them. Do you know why they win awards? Because of themselves. We have our fair share of faults and I could probably write a training curriculum on what not to do. But, at the end of the day, this team is amazing. They’ve always been amazing. They just needed someone to believe in them. And show them how to be leaders. I will never stop being amazed at what they are able to accomplish. Because we all know I couldn’t do half of what they do. I’m a figurehead. Yet I lead from the front. And I feel confident and secure enough to say I know if I said follow me, they would, not because I said it but because they trust me.
________________
I ask you –
By all means, feel free to comment on the disasters which plague me.
Recently, someone asked why do you want to look different than the people you work with, presumably because of what I wear to work. I said it’s not because I want to, it’s because I need to. You see, when it comes time to stand up for my team, they deserve a leader who will do just that – stand up. It’s a privilege to be their leader and I never want anyone to question my loyalty to them. One of my first days on the fitness job, I was approached with the words “You look like you’re in charge”. My reply: I am. I want to look like a leader because…I am. I want to stand in front of, beside, and behind my employees because…I do. More than any of these; however, is I want my team to see me do it because…I have. And I will. And I will continue to do so. When my team wins, we all win. In 2024, we did big things. Even just a few weeks into 2025, we’re doing bigger things.
a few of many
The glass ceiling still exists. Oh it does. Even in the military (and I doubt it’s only the military) women still struggle obtaining top positions. Not to say it’s impossible – it’s absolutely not and has been proven time and again – but it’s a struggle. I never want to be a leader who was chosen because I was the “best of the worst”. Because I can name a dozen who were. I want to be chosen because I’m the best at what I do. Thus far, I believe that has happened. But I don’t want to become complicit to positional power, easily stripped with removal of a title. Sure, other people rely on me, but it is not that single reason which makes me a leader.
No, this post is not a whoohoo look at me and all the great things I’m doing. I don’t need a pat on the back. My only goal is to empower someone else to do the same, step up, be the leader you’re called to be. Because someone is watching you be the best you. And you have a team to lead.
_______________
I ask you –
Are you an organizational leader?
What’s your opinion of the glass ceiling?
Tell me your title, in whatever capacity you are in.
(The post Because…I am. 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.)
Yes. I bought it. Honestly, not their best work. The pieces of cake are delicious but the ice cream is plain vanilla. Not a huge fan.
I think about this sandwich more than I should. But it’s keto so not a big concern. It’s also amazing with just scrambled eggs, bacon, and avocado. Trust me.
Jada, Gia, Luli, me, and Jarrod
A team photo from the recent 5k. We had our largest turnout of participants probably in the history of installation fun runs.
Jumped on the permanent jewelry bandwagon. A huge thank you to our beautiful friend, Lyndsie, for the opportunity to get bracelets. If you come across Sacred Strands, you’re in for a treat!
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