Atlanta

I went down to Atlanta this weekend to see family and an old friend from college. I stayed at my aunt and uncle's Friday and went out for beer and wings with them when I got there. Saturday was spent just hanging out, discussing wedding plans, etc. The coolest thing was that I got to see all 3 of my cousins. Two of them have moved out and live about 45 minutes in opposite directions and apparently don't come home too often. They both made the trek over to see me because as my aunt says I'm their "favorite cousin". I just love seeing how these boys have grown into amazing young men. I used to spend time every summer down there and even did 2 clinicals in PT school down there spending weeks at a time. I remember them when they were so young, spending all their time at the pool and playing video games. Well the video games thing hasn't changed... :) I did get to try Guitar Hero on XBox for the first time...so fun. But I am SOOO not good at it. My cousin Mikey though is AMAZING. If he spent half as much time learning an actual guitar he'd be one helluva musician!

Saturday night I met a college friend and her fiance out for dinner. It was so good to see Jacie. I hadn't seen her since our friend Jenn's wedding a year and a half ago. I never met her fiance Jason before, but I think he's great. They make an amazing couple and I'm so excited to go to their wedding in May. They are getting married at this exclusive wedding resort in the mountains of North Georgia in front of a waterfall. ME = JEALOUS. It was fun to catch up with her about all our friends from Duquesne as well as discuss where our late 20-something lives are taking us. Sunday we went to a bridal show in Atlanta. Not really useful for me since I'm not getting married down there, but fun nonetheless. And free samples of food is always good in my book!

Now I'm desperately trying to catch up on sleep. It's only Tuesday and I'm exhausted. I'm planning on having a LAZY weekend come Friday night! :)

My trainer

I had my first "real" session with my trainer today. On Tuesday we had gone over the whole fitness goals thing and took my weight and body measurements. He also is big into diet and wants me to do a 7 day calorie count. Let me tell you that has been a challenge. I'm scrutinizing EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth. I think I eat fairly healthy for breakfast and lunches and most of the time dinner, but I admit I love my carbs and have WAY to many of them sometimes. I also live in a constant state of dehydration. I'm really trying to drink more water, but it's hard to do at work when I'm on my feet walking around all day and it's against health standards to have a bottle of water on hand. Yesterday I managed to gulp down (4 1/2) 8 oz glasses of water. Which is about 4 glasses more than I usually have! :)

So today was the first intense workout with the trainer. Yeah, I got my ass kicked. But he was impressed I could do 10 REAL pushups before I had to switch to the girly kind. ;) We did circuits focusing on abs, arms, and legs with a period of intense cardio worked in between them. I'm definitely going to be sore tomorrow...and the next day...and probably the one after that.

**Random website** This has NOTHING to do with the topic of this post but the following website makes me so happy.

http://cache.valleywag.com/assets/resources/screenclean.swf

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I'm off to Atlanta this weekend to visit my aunt and uncle and my friend/sorority sister Jacie. It should be fun.

The Gym

In my neverending endeavor to be in shape and fit for the wedding (only 4 1/2 months!!), I've joined a gym down here called "The Rush". (www.rush247.com) Let me tell you that 5 PM during the week makes that place look like a zoo!

Anyways, I'm just starting to get back into the workout thing again after successfully rehabbing my knee from my ski accident. I'm still hesitant to push my leg on the machines so I've steered clear of those but have started the cardio, core work, and arm strengthening again. And tomorrow, I start back up with a personal trainer, I had some great results with my trainer in Chicago and I'm hoping to pick up where he left off.

So while at the gym, I get to do one of my favorite things....PEOPLE WATCH. Today, I'm over by the "arm weight" section pumping some major iron (ha ha) and can't help but watch the young men there working out. Not because they are cute, but because they have NO IDEA what they are doing. I watched one guy working on his anterior deltoids (think: the muscle on the front/lateral part of your shoulder that helps you raise your arm up) with at least a 50 lb dumbell. Which would be impressive, had he been using just his delts to do this. This guy was using trunk extension, hamstrings, hip extension, and even his calf muscles to do each rep! And all I could think of was, "Judi, right now you are NOT a PT, do NOT say anything to him, keep you eye on your own workout". But it sure is hard to listen to the voices in my head sometimes. :)

To SCUBA or not to SCUBA

I've been toying with the idea of becoming SCUBA certified. James and I are going to Fiji for our honeymoon in July, home to some of the best diving in the world. I'd hate to miss out. The trouble is I'd have to do the certification by myself as would James since we are on opposite sides of the country until July.

What does certification require?
- able to swim 200 yards (any stroke, no time limit)
- able to tread water for 10 minutes
- an etutorial session to learn the necessary background info and tips
- 2 afternoons in a pool learning the basic skills and safety measures of SCUBA
- a 2 day open water dive

I'm scared I'll panic underwater. And since I'm not a STRONG swimmer it frightens me. Looks like I'll be heading up to the gym to practice my strokes. The thought of missing out on something amazing in Fiji makes me really want to do it though.

I'm hoping to do this when I get back to Cleveland in April. Here's where I'm looking to go:
http://www.justaddwaterscuba.com/index.html

Welcome

The dash in between...that's what life is about. It's not when you were born or when you die that describes your life. Life is measured by that little dash in between those dates. All the memories, experiences, joys, sorrows, love and laughter and summed up in that little dash. This blog is my attempt to chronicle my dash...I hope you enjoy. Leave me some love.