Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is probably an advertiser's most successful, effective tool. Just think about it...think of things that you are very passionate about or that you like a lot. If it comes up in conversation, you are the first one to chime in with your personal experiences with said topic. We become advocates for the advertiser/product without directly meaning to. Some of these for me are:

~Apple products
~...(iPod's specifically)
~Nike Shox
~Dri-fit anything
~The Amazing Race
~iTunes

...and more I can't think of right now...

The reason I bring this up is because I have become CBS's The Amazing Race's biggest advertising sponsor. I started watching it after my sister told me I would love it. Her certainty of my love for the show made me curious, so I watched the first episode of last season's show. I fell hookline and sinker after that first episode! Well, A, M, and I come in each morning and catch up with each other's previous night's events, tv viewing, etc. Well, I kept on telling them how great the show is, so they decided to give it a try.

M got hooked last season.

A came in today and told me that she is hooked on it now, too.

CBS, you can just send the checks to my home address:)

Daily Viewing

My daily web viewing ritual:

~open up AIM (for work, seriously)
~open work e-mail
~...then personal e-mail
~the 4 work-related sites that I use constantly
~my blog
~my Tri blog
~thumb through the other blogs linked to mine
~Trifuel
~read other blogs and messages related to Trifuel
~check my balance in my checking acct
~AJC.com

After the first 4, there is no particular order to my viewing habits. AND...mind you, I *DO* work. Seriously! But, when I'm not busy with work-related stuff, I browse around:)

Other miscellaneous sites I visit:
~REI
~Active.com
~sites from my favorite shows

What did we do withOUT the internet??? I'm at a loss...good thing I wasn't in the "real world" without it. Would you just *have* to find work-related stuff to keep ya busy all day long??? Sucks to be working in that generation!

A Heads Up

The 2 girls (A and M) that I share an office with and I give each other a "heads up" on a lot of stuff. Some would call this gossip, but it really isn't. We never say anything that is untrue, perpetuate rumors, make up rumors, etc. For example, we gave each other a "heads up" this past Friday at the company cookout. The co-worker that made the salad was sick, and A saw her sneeze and then proceed to toss the salad. A came back to our office and told us to stay clear of the salad. This is the type of thing I'm referring to...gossip?...I don't think so...

Well, an ongoing thing that we keep each other abreast on is co-workers who don't wash their hands after they use the restroom. We find out about more and more people everyday who don't practice this easy, hygienic step. So, everytime you see that person, all you can think about is whether or not they decided to wash their hands the last time they went to the restroom.

So, I walked in this morning and was putting my lunch in the refridgerator when I heard the bathroom door open and close. The next thing I see is the owner of our company walking into the kitchen and going straight for the coffee. While exchanging "good morning's", she then proceeds to open the refridgerator door to get her creamer and drawer to get a spoon. All the while, I'm standing there making mental notes of where NOT to touch. (if you couldn't infer, she is one that A and M have told me time and time again doesn't practice good hygiene)

Yuck, yuck, yuck!

Weekend Update

Watched SuperSize Me this weekend and it thoroughly grossed me out! Eating *that* much fast food is just nasty! Yuck!

Went shopping with my mom, sis, and the kids on Saturday afternoon and couldn't find ANYTHING in my size! It's a common size...

Church was packed, air wasn't on, my niece and nephew were being wild, sermon was long and boring (I know this is bad to say, but he just rambled on and on)...I was about to freak out.

I would be a bad parent. I was fumbling with my sister's new treadmill after Easter lunch--just looking at all the options, how fast it would go, etc.--when my niece came over and started playing with the cord. I told her to be careful and not get too close because she could get hurt. Then, my bro-in-law decided to get on it and put it on the highest speed (I wasn't looking). The next thing I hear is a big "thud" and hear my mom yell my niece's name. She had put her hand on the belt of the treadmill while it was going full speed! After we made sure she was ok, all I could think was, "I told ya so." I'm so bad...

I watched Grey's Anatomy last night...and now I'm hooked. Dang it! *This* is the reason I don't watch new shows. If I watch the first episode and like it, then I'm hooked. I managed to escape The O.C., Smallville, Las Vegas, CSI--just to name a few. Dang it!

No work, thanks

Reasons why I don't feel like doing any work today:

~went out last night
~...and only had 3 drinks
~...but really feeling it today!
~(cause I usually don't go out during the week)
~(...or that much period)
~didn't get my workout in this morning
~...so I'm not as "energized" today
~...but I'm going after work
~we are having a cookout today at lunch
~...just because we had a good month
~we're leaving early today
~...hopefully after the cookout
~it's Friday

All valid reasons, right? LOL

Riled up!

One of my co-workers has gotten me riled up this morning. A (one out of 2 girls in our individual office) came in and told us about her morning. Her parents are up helping them out with their baby because her daycare provider's house was struck by lightening and caught on fire on Tuesday (yup, she was on the news if you saw it). Anyway, A walked downstairs on her way to work and bent down and to pet her dog.

A's mom: "Oh honey, you shouldn't bend down like that. That is NOT pretty. You need to get your weight under control."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mind you, she isn't tiny, but in no way, shape, or form would I ever think that about her! For one thing, she had a baby back in September. Second thing, this is coming from her mom! Third thing, who says that to someone that they care about and love?!?!?!?!

They go on about this issue for 45 minutes. Her mom continues to tell her that she is obese, definitely looks her size, and brings up Jesus. Yes, Jesus!!!

A's mom: "It's like Jesus Christ. You never know when someone will find Jesus Christ. You never know what you will say that will make that person turn to Jesus Christ. A, I am just hoping that I can say that one thing that will make you lose weight!"

How are you gonna make an analogy about losing weight and Jesus Christ?!?!?!?! A didn't seem too phased by this whole conversation. She said that she just slammed the door and left after she had had enough. Apparently, this is just the way her mom is, and that she was just probably trying to give her some constructive criticism. NOT OK! I am honestly getting mad FOR her! Does her mom want her to have an eating disorder? This is what I would have said after the whole Jesus Christ analogy:

"You never know what you will say that will make someone become anorexic!"

I am mad about this!!! There are only a few buttons that you can push with me that get me riled up. Her mom pushed 2 of them! Being rude/mean/hateful/cruel for NO reason AND anything about weight. There is NO reason to be intentionally mean to ANYONE! Also, you never know why someone is overweight or what caused it or if they really ARE trying to lose weight, etc. I had a friend that gained weight because of a serious illness. I am not saying that I haven't made a joke or comment about an overweight person, but I honestly try not to.

One, this is her MOM!
Second, this is just RUDE coming from ANYONE!
Third, this is NOT constructive!

The more I think about it, the more I get mad about it...

The sacrifices we make in life, eh?

I haven't previously posted anything on this blog about my training for triathlons because I have a triathlon blog (Mytriblog), but it is pertinent for this entry.

Due to the time commitment that it takes to train for a triathlon, my social life has suffered a little. Let me start from square one...

I have always been a runner--it's just in my blood. I started running in 8th grade and have been running ever since. Outside of Cross Country in high school, I haven't been part of any team or social running group. It is just something that I enjoy doing, is good for me, "me" time, etc. I started really getting into fitness in college--Ramsey was just too good to pass up! I started lifting weights, experimenting with other sports (racketball, rock climbing, etc.), and really just enjoyed fitness. My best friend always said that I should be a personal trainer, but I just shrugged it off.

When I started my job, everyone always commented on how healthy I ate, worked out all the time, etc. I started training one of my friends here at work, and she has commented several time about how I missed my calling in life. By this point, I let the idea start to creep it's way into my brain...too many people making the same observation...

I started tossing around the idea of going back to school to pursue being a personal trainer. I knew that if I was going to do this, some things would have to change. I could no longer afford to live by myself--a luxury I had become accustomed to for the 2 years I had been out of college. My mom was willing to help me with the expense of school, but I didn't want or expect her to pay for it all. I was making good money, so I couldn't not work. So...roommate. It turned out that none of my friends in Atlanta were looking for roommates, but one of my friends in Gainesville was--hince why I moved back to Gainesville. Upon moving back to Gainesville, I started researching how to become a personal trainer. I found out that it wasn't any more beneficial to go back to school to get a degree vs going through a reputable, certified personal training program. This, however, isn't just cheap.

So, back to the point of this post...

I've always thought of triathlons as "the ultimate race." I quickly became addicted to them when I found out that they were on OLN every Sunday at 3pm. Naturally, this fueled me to start training for the sport. This was now my new goal--an Ironman...eventually. At that point, I started to set running goals for myself. First it was to get first in my age group (I've done this 3 out of the 4 races that I have entered in the past 6 months). Then it was a half-marathon--this was the other race out of the 4. I did that this past Thanksgiving and beat my time goal. Now it is a marathon--this coming Thanksgiving. So, I am pretty confident with the running part.

I had taken spin classes for about 2 years, so the only thing I needed to do was get a bike and get more "on road" practice. So, I bought a bike back in February. Then there is the swimming leg of the race. My WEAKEST leg! I knew I had to put in the time and effort to getting this down before I even attempted to enter a triathlon. So, I rearranged my workout schedule to accommodate running, working out, and swimming. Bike on the weekends, get up early and get to the gym when it opens, go to work, and still have time for friends after work, right? HA! I thought that I was "freeing up" time, but that is so NOT the case. Getting up early...to commute...to get to the gym when it opens...then to work...studying...then...? After I commute back home, eat, get ready for the next day...I'm pooped! I literally sit down in my recliner after I get everything done and can't stay awake! I try to study and fall asleep!

With the exception of the occasional drink with friends, outing with friends from work, or date (VERY VERY occasional--LOL), my social life is ka-put! Juggling friends from high school, college, Gainesville, Atlanta, Savannah, work AND training AND working--it's just too much! There is only ONE of me, people! Most of my friends are really really good about it, though. They know how important this is to me and that they *will* see me at some point--LOL.

The sacrifices we make in life, eh?

Car Watch

Some people like to people watch. Others like to bird watch. I, on the other hand, like to car watch. Let me explain... I will be driving down the road, and when a car passes, I unconsciously and automatically look at their license plate.

What state are they from?
If from Georgia, what county?

For example, the same car from Cobb county went to Savannah with me on Friday afternoon. He was a man who looked to be in his late 30's and drove a Saturn.

Is he going down for St. Patty's Day?
Does he have family there?
Visiting friends?

And then this morning, I saw a car from Bibb county here in Cobb county.

Does he work in Cobb County?
Does he commute everyday?!
Visiting?

And so it goes...you get the idea...

You can also learn a lot about people from their cars. The make and model says a lot just in itself.

Honda--reliable
Jeep--adventurous, outdoorsy, rugged
Nissan--stylish
Chevy--all American
Ford--plain (LOL)
luxury brand cars--high maintenance, status conscience

Sports car--sexy, spontaneous, speed-lover
SUV--adventurous, outdoorsy, maybe a wannabe of the 2
Sedan--practical
Minivan--family oriented

Also, some people let you know what they "stand" for. Breast cancer, Support the Troops, "Honor Roll Parent," bumper stickers with sayings, Human Rights stickers, their political affiliation, etc.

A person's car says a lot about them. What does yours say about you? Give it a whirl the next time you're driving.

***can you tell I drive a lot?

Horoscope

Today, dear Pisces, put some music on to get yourself going - especially if you find yourself feeling a little lonely. Music to the Pisces is often as impacting as conversation with others. This is because it provides an avenue for you to communicate with a deeper part of yourself. Your sensitive nature can find comfort and hope through the strums and rhythms like nothing else. Pull out your favorites and listen, sing along, or even dance - enjoy your day to the fullest!

It's really crazy how accurate my horoscope is sometimes!

Green beer, good friends

You know how the scenario goes...once you finish college, it becomes harder and harder to stay in touch with friends. It shouldn't be this way, but life just sorta gets in the way. You have those friends that you weren't really close with (the one's that you know you really won't stay in contact with) and then there are the ones that you know will be in your life after college. Even those friends are hard to stay in touch with on a regular basis. Well, I went to go visit one of those friends this weekend. She and I used to be together ALL the time. I met her my sophomore year--she lived right across the hall from me--, and we have been best friends ever since.

I graduated a year before her (I did the 4 year plan and she did the 5.5 year plan--LOL) and started my job, etc. After she graduated, she got married and has moved several times because her husband, a guy that I really like and know is good to her, is in the Army. (***examples of how life gets in the way***) He has been in Iraq for the past 2 months, so she's been a little lonely. It's been hard since it's a new town to her, but she has made some friends at work and with other military wives.

Being St. Patty's Day weekend in Savannah, it was a little crazy. I'd never been down there for the festivities, but it was definitely a good time. Green fountains, live bands, cheap beer, beads galore, "girls gone wild" wannabe's, hippies...what else could you ask for?!?! We hung out with her friends, looked at the shops along Riverfront, went to a nice dinner, went bar-hopping on Riverfront and the surrounding area, went to a BBQ, and just had fun visiting with each other. I also ran into an old friend from high school and college while I was down there, too! Whodathunkit?!?!

Even though the visit was too short, it was spent reminiscing with a good friend, making new memories, drinking too much, meeting new people, and a promise to visit VERY soon! Good times...:)

Cut the Fat!

All the women here at work are on a diet. Here is how people show their support:

Monday: Doughnuts
Tuesday: Girl Scout cookies
Wednesday: Girl Scout cookies
Thursday: Girl Scout cookies and regular cookies from a Lunch 'n Learn
Friday: an assortment of Girl Scout cookies

And all the women just can't seem to lose weight...

Go figure!

All for St. Patty's Day!

Being St. Patrick's Day, I made sure that I put out a green top to wear today. Well, I didn't really *look* at the sweater I laid out, but just put it with my pants and hung it by the door. It was a light weight, merino wool dark green sweater...

I went to the gym as usual this morning and was getting ready, when I noticed...2 holes in my sweater!!! Each were the size of a pencil eraser--one in the middle of my chest and the other on the sleeve! What made it even worse was the fact that I was wearing a white undershirt under it! There was no way you could/would miss it...

Great!
Why didn't I see this last night?!
Moths? No, cause my other wool sweaters don't have any holes...
WTF do I do?!?!?!
I can't go to work with 2 holes in my sweater!
Dang it! I love this sweater!

The ONLY place I could think of that was open at 7:30am was Wal-Mart...so, I went shopping at Wally-World...

I found a green stripped, long-sleeve shirt that I liked. But of course, I didn't have a belt, so I had to buy one of those, too...

So, I went from a merino wool sweater from Banana Republic to a Wal-Mart shirt! LOL. The funny thing is...I've had many people at work tell me that they like my shirt! It's all too funny...

The Usual Self

So, I went on another lunch date with A today. We had a good time...

...just one thing...I dunno if I'm all that "into" him.

I mean, there isn't anything about him that I can put my finger on, but I just dunno. I'm trying not to be my "usual self." Usually, if I don't like the person right off or if there isn't any chemistry/interest, then I don't pursue it or I just let it taper off (as in just don't call). I am horrible about making split decisions when it comes to dating/liking a person.

I figure that this hasn't worked that well for me in the past, so...maybe...I need to try another approach. I'm trying to get to know him before I make a decision, but is the time invested really worth it??? Some people might say, "give it a chance--see where it might go," but if you know it's not going to work out, then why not just cut your losses?

Also, should one date just for the sole purpose of dating??? My thought is NO. I've never dated just to go on a date. There has always been some sort of interest on my part if I go on a date with someone. And there *was* interest when I first went out with him, but...it's quickly fading. Why? In some ways he's "too gay." Maybe that is it...I just dunno...

He's going out of town til the end of the month, so that'll give me time to think about it.

THE best feeling

I stopped by my sister's house on my way home from work to pick up the recording of last weeks Amazing Race episode (I missed it last week due to my Bike Maintenace 101 class that I took at REI). When I walked in, both my niece and nephew stopped what they were doing and ran towards me at full-force. They both ran smack into my legs and put their arms around them. Both of them were yelling, "Uncle's here, uncle's here!!!"

That is the thing about kids--they make you feel like you are the ONLY person that they want to see. They have a way of making you feel like you mean the most to them and that they are genuinely ecstatic to see you. Kids do this because this is the way they truly and honestly feel. They have no other motives.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all acted like kids? Just a thought...

Save a buck or two

One of the girls in my office stopped to get gas this morning. She went to QT by her house and found that it was $1.99/gallon, so she decided to drive on to work and see if there were any cheaper stations. Well, to her surprise, the BP right near our office was $1.89/gallon! So, needless to say, she stopped and got gas there.

She came in and told M and me this. We were both low on gas (>1/4 gallon), so M went down the street to check the QT to see if theirs was any cheaper (it usually is cheaper than the BP here). She called me on her way back to BP to tell me that it wasn't cheaper. So, I left to go get gas, too.

The things we do for a couple of bucks! But hey, 10 cents is a lot when you're filling up a new SUV:)

A Lunch Date

I had another date with A (he will be known as A from now on)! We did lunch today. It was a spur of the moment plan...again! He's leaving town on Thursday and wanted to get together before he left. It was nice...

He wants to get together again before he leaves on Thursday...if possible. Who knows, maybe...

:)

A Better Place

It was a nice service...there were times where my eyes welled up with tears and others where I chucked. He's in a better place now, and that makes me less sad.

Good bye, SJ...

In Memory of...

...my friend SJ. He died on March 10, 2005. He had just turned 25 the day before. He had been battling Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia for 10 years. He died of complications from a bone marrow transplant.

He and I were best friends all through elementary and middle school. For some reason, we sort of just went in different paths in high school. We were still friends, just not as close as we once had been. I found out about his death on Saturday. It was so odd because my mom and I were just thinking about him the other day. During dinner, she had read me the wedding announcement of his sister. She is to get married in mid-April. I was out with my sis, bro-in-law, and their kids when my mom called.

Mom: Stephen. Remember we were talking about SJ the other day?
Me: Yeah...
Mom: Well, he died on March 10th...
Me: (in disbelief) What?!?!?!

I still can't believe it. I am about to go to his funeral and I can't stop thinking about him. We have the same name, he is my age (I am 2 days older), we played basketball together in elementary school and for the Park Rec team, we ran cross country together, we were in Boy Scouts together, we went to the same church, we spent the night together all the time...the list goes on. To know that I will experience things that he never will is just too much for me to think about. I don't think I have thought about someone as much as I have thought about him in the last 24 hours. We used to spend so much time together. We would call each other when were were younger with the same intro:

SJ: May I speak to Stephen?
Me: This is Stephen.
SJ: Hey Stephen, this is Stephen.
Me: Hey Stephen!

We were such dorks. When I read his obituary, it was like reading mine. He loved to mountain bike (I like to road bike), workout, spend time with friends and family, lover of life, etc.

I'm just sick over this and can't stop thinking about it. I wish I had known him better as we were getting older...I wish we hadn't lost touch...I wish we had been as close as we once were...

I'm sorry...I will miss you...please know that you were/are an important part of my life...

You will be missed...

It's been a while

I went out on a date on Friday night. This is the first "date" I've been out on in a LONG time. Well...let me rephrase that: The first date I've been out on in a LONG time with a normal, nice guy. There are a bunch of weirdo's out there! Plus, I've been so busy with work, family, heck--just life in general--to even think about dating.

I'd met this guy out when a friend and I went out a couple of weeks ago. We had hung out that night and exchanged numbers, etc. Well, we have been trying to find a time when we could both go out, but the odds seemed against us. It was a spur of the moment plan--while I was at work on Friday--but it finally happened! We went to dinner at a place neither one of us had been to before--Two Urban Licks. It was great food, atmosphere, view of the skyline of Atlanta, conversation, and company (he even paid! I told him not to--that we should go dutch--but he insisted! What was I to do?? hehe). The only way I agreed to him paying was if I paid for our drinks when we went out. After dinner, we went to 2 bars/lounges for a couple of drinks and then back to his place. We sat and chatted for a while before I left to go home.

All in all--a GREAT evening!

The people I feel sorry for...

...are thosee that stand out on the side of the street for one of the tax companies (American Life? Liberty National?). I mean, they are out in the cold/wind in a Statue of Liberty costume for Pete's sake! They can't be getting paid *that* well!

Developments

When I was transferring my stuff from my old car to my new car, I came across 2 rolls of used film. If you couldn't infer, I am HORRIBLE about getting film developed!!! Well, I decided to get these developed today...

...turns out that one roll was from New Year's Eve 2002 and the other was my niece's and nephew's birthday's from 2003!!! I knew these would be old, but dang!

It *was* fun looking at them, tho. Sorta nostalgic, but new...

Lunch

I got a free Chik-fil-A Chicken sandwich in one of my race packets, so I decided to go redeem it today. It is sorta out of the way just for lunch, but I had nothing else to do...plus, it was a beautiful day! So, got my free sandwich and was on my way back to the office when I noticed I needed to get gas. I was aggravated 'cause of the high price of gas now. Well, to my surprise, I found a Chevron that had gas for $1.90! I was so stoked, since all the others were like $1.95+.

Score! Free sandwich AND cheaper gas...

It's the little things that get me excited...LOL.

Happy Birthday...

...to me! 25 years old...half a century old...dang! Thoughts that are going through my head:

~how have I changed since last year?
~I feel like an adult...
~...and sometimes I don't
~my life isn't what I thought it would be...
~...in good ways...
~...and bad
~things I've accomplished...
~...and haven't...
~goals for this year (more on this later)

These are a few amongst many thoughts...

It's gonna be a good year! (or else, I'll *will* it to be a good year!)

I have a new toy...

...it's a new, 2005 Nissan Murano SL!!! OMG! I love it! It's the copper color with the reddish-orangish-tanish color leather interior. Sunroof, 6 disc in-dash changer, power everything, loaded!

A Nissan sales guy called me about my '99 Nissan Maxima and wanted to buy it back from me! He said that their used car inventory was very low and that they knew my car was in peak condition. The low mileage and good condition were what they were looking for. I was a little skeptical (another one of my friends got a call like this but didn't check it out...), but I had nothing to lose, right? Well, nothing to lose and everything to gain! I went from a '99 Nissan Maxima to a '05 Nissan Murano:) It suits me so much better--I run, cycle, row, starting triathlons, etc.

Just call it an early birthday present--just 2 days early:)

A little indulgent...yes
Just the kind of car I wanted...yes
Color...yes
Options...yes
Something just for me...yes

I deserve it, right?! I'm happy...

TGIF!

It's a beautiful day outside...it's Friday...not too busy here at work...starting to feel better...

...all I can think about is getting out on my bike and going for a long, long ride...

EXACTLY!

The following lyrics are to Switchfoot's This is your life:

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes,
This is your life
And today is all you've got now
And today is all you've ever had
Don't close your eyes

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be?
when the world was younger, and you had everything to lose?

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?


Are they singing to me? How do they know that these are thoughts that have been running through my mind for a while now?

New Beginnings

I am not new to the blogging world, this is just a new blog. A couple of reasons for this:

~I wanted to be more "personal" on *my* blog, but couldn't because of the readers (friends, co-workers)
~I'm in a real transition point in my life and felt that a new blog was in order
~I just needed a change...

So, here's to a new blog, new beginnings, and to change! I hope y'all enjoy *this* guy's anonymous rants!