Author Archives: wendynewell

Super Weekend

28 Wednesday Jul 2010

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I realize my last post was a bit whiny so I thought I’d share with you my very cool weekend.

Fist off Sat was kicked off with a really nice 5K. The people running the event were very sweet and it was for a good cause (http://rosannametoyer.com/). I crossed the finish line with random people cheering me on by name, thanks to the guy on the mic’s ability to look up bib numbers fast and furious. On top of that I finally got back to my “fighting time” of crossing the line in under 30 minutes. With all the Bar Method classes I’ve been doing my weekly runs have been cut down to once a week which has been slowing me down during races. BUT I’M BACK!

After the quickest shower of all time I ran over to my friends house to help set up for a wonderful little boy’s 4th b-day party. Happily my sister and her family were down here so they got to go with me to the fantastical event. That means I got to spend quality time with my sister, mom and the babies and included chasing my nephew around a giant back yard and in and out of a bouncy house. Totally worth it as he is an adorable little bundle of cuteness. My niece was as cute but much easier to watch over! The adult after party went late and I was pooped when I hit my pillow.

Sat I was up early hiking with Riggins which made him crazy happy. He ran and ran and ran like his little butt was on fire. He was happy to fully ignore the cries of a couple men who demanded he was in the area where rattlesnakes are. Riggins has no fear and little common sense so he ignored them with a smile on his face as he raced around the no-go zone (one reason he has been vaccinated for rattlesnakes) and I hoped for the best!

On my way home Riggins and I swung by a friends house to drop off back to school gifts for her girls and were easily convinced to head off to breakfast. Two dogs, two women, and a yummy outdoor local restaurant equals fun post hike morning time for humans and animals!

Then off to see Salt and eat it with lovely movie popcorn and soda! I had been saving my “no caffeine” time out card for that moment. Nothing makes me happier than snuggling down in my hoodie in a movie theatre with a box of salty popcorn and a cup of bubbly soda! I even managed to not throw popcorn and the tool-ish dude to my right who thought his comments during the previous were hilarious enough for us all to hear … they weren’t … but my popcorn was too precious to waste on him!

Some grocery shopping, an arts and crafts project for a friend, and off to bed.

Woo hoo! Super duper fun weekend.

(Note there was no biking or swimming which means it HAS to happen this weekend. Also notice the mass of untamed hair on the top of my head in that picture. Told ya.)

Constant State of Ouch

28 Wednesday Jul 2010

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I’m in pain. Always. I’m tired. Always. Always. Always. Always. I’m in a constant state of ouch. Why? We are told that exercise makes you feel good, healthy, and relieves stress. Okay that may be, but all I do is feel the pain. Is this how professional athletes feel all the time? If so I take back all those things I’ve said about them not earning their large salaries. Those poor guys/gals must be in agony.

Due to a self made training schedule for my next Tri all I do is work, exercise, and sleep. Honestly. That’s it. The thing that gets cut in that schedule? Sleep, and for me working out more makes my body require more sleep. Since I have no control over the time allotted in one 24 hour day I have to make cuts somewhere. It seems slightly unfair that I hear daily, “wow you look exhausted” (aka you look horrible) when I’m exercising to be a more healthy and vibrant person.

Then there is the actual pain of this working out. PAIN. Honestly at any point in my day if you asked me “what hurts?” I’d have an answer for you. Right now, due to last night’s bar class, I’d tell you the back of my thigh, abs, biceps and butt (always my butt … my butt always hurts …. always.) My first bar class last Nov. the teacher said, “it gets easier but it always hurts.” The woman wasn’t kidding.

Here is the schedule I am hoping to keep …
Mon, Tue, Wed – Get up early to walk Riggins, Work, Bar Method class, sleep.
Thur – Get up early to swim, work, walk Riggins at lunch, more work, Bar Method class, sleep.
Fri – Get up early to walk Riggins, Work, Run, Sleep.
Sat – Get up early to swim (before pool gets too crowded), bike or hike (I prefer hiking but I really have to bike at some point).
Sun – Get up early to bike (before the crazies come out in my neighborhood and mow me down in their car), hike or run (if I don’t hike it means I have to take Riggins to the dog park so hiking kills two birds with one stone and is my preferred activity even though I should run).

Your sleepy just reading that right? Sigh. Me too. The problem with that schedule is that it leaves little to no room for “life”. Life usually gets in my way of making this schedule work. This week is shot to hell. For example, yesterday I had to get up early to clean for the cleaning lady instead of walking Riggins. Tomorrow I HAVE TO get my hair cut/colored vs. going to Bar Method. Seriously if you saw my head right now you would realize this is this HAS to be done. Due to the need to socialize and be happy I’m going to dinner at a friends tonight instead of Bar Method and I may have to take Riggins to the vet tomorrow morning instead of going swimming. All that means is that I will feel the need to triple up on my workouts this weekend. Not a bad idea given that the it will help with my tri training. But zzzzzz. I’m too pooped to pop!

I suppose I need to find balance. You know what would help? Cutting something that takes up large chunks of my time … like work! That’s the ticket! I need to find a way to cut that. I’m buying a lotto ticket at lunch! I’m feeling lucky. Tired and in pain … but lucky!

Funny Story …

16 Friday Jul 2010

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So one of the things I do on my computer is work. One of the other things I do on my computer is write this blog. One of the cold calling/networking sites I use, LinkedIn, allows you to email prospects (well if you pay them enough money they allow you to email prospects). I’m convinced it is useless but my boss swears by it so I do it. I usually email a group of folks (in this case those that are in the “gaming” industry) a quick intro to our services and request to meet or have the info passed on to a more appropriate contact. Here’s the thing. These “blast” emails are somewhat useless so, although I do them, I tend to use the same wording over and over. Luckily for me most of the sections you have to fill out save what I’ve written before. All I do is click in the area that says “contact phone number” and my number pops up. Tada!

Problem — The subject line section in LinkedIn emails also seems to hold on to my Titles from my blog. So it is ENTIRELY possible that if I’m not careful, and you know I’m not, I’ll send a prospect an email with the title “Sir-Enough About Your Butt.”

This has almost happened enough times for me to think of the response I would have to the “what the ???!@!@!!” email back I would get. How’s this?

“Sorry sir I didn’t mean YOUR butt. Funny story. See I write this blog about my adventures of online dating and things I do with my dog. It isn’t nearly as pathetic as it sounds. Anyway, the title of one of my blog posts just popped up and I didn’t catch it before I hit “send”. Sorry about that. Back to the topic at hand. Can you buy some stuff from me? Thanks.”

I totally think that will work. If nothing else, if I make this mistake, someone might actually READ the email blasts I sent out!

Sir – Enough About Your Butt

15 Thursday Jul 2010

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Headline from one of Today’s Chemistry “matches”:

“hello i am very senstitive man and fanny honest caring and romantic latino for you so dont be scare you can contact me.”

Did he really say “fanny”? Yes. He did. He said it again in his “In His Own Words” section:

“hello well i can say to much about myself but you can ask me and i will tell you what you want to know i am here just to try on this site just let me know what you want to know.i am fanny guy and i like the movies, dancing, dinning and am ready for what you want. “

Despite his reassurances, I’m scare.

NOW You Have Standards

13 Tuesday Jul 2010

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On online dating you have to understand that men don’t have good pictures of themselves. They just don’t. I forwarded a match to a friend today and when she said he scared her I reminded her of this fact. I told her my standards of pictures for online dating with guys is really low. As long as they:
* Aren’t obvious gang members.
* Are fully clothed
* Have pictures that don’t involve 1/2 naked strippers, dancers, Hooters waitress’
Their pictures pass!

There is a reason why I have these rules. You should see some of these pictures. I’m convinced many of these guys don’t actually own shirts and most of them really really really should. Remember the guy with the picture of a naked chick in his hallway and that is what his main photo was — a picture of that picture in his hallway. AT LEAST once a day I see a picture that is EXTREMELY questionable.

Can you explain then WHY Chemistry.com felt it was necessary to NOT allow me to post the picture above. It’s from my visit to Martha’s art studio in Philly. It is art AND reflects who I am. I’m sure certain folks, like my mom, will be happy this photo wasn’t accepted. BUT I’m cute in it! I need a cute semi-updated photo and I’ve had a case of the photo uglies lately which means I have limited choices.

Maybe if I was shirtless it would be acceptable.

Now For A Different View of Dating

12 Monday Jul 2010

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My friend Lisa and her adorable puppers (AKA Riggins girlfriend) are, like me, lookin’ for a man. She, like me, has a blog dedicated to her search (well mine isn’t totally dedicated to “dating” but it seems to have that general focus 75% of the time).

Now a handful of months back I read on Lisa’s Facebook page that she was getting married. I was so happy for her! Then I read further and thought she had taken a one way train ride into crazy town. Lisa has booked a wedding venue to coordinate with the anniversary of her grandparents and has now enlisted … well everyone … to help her find her groom. AND let me tell you I take back the crazy train ride thing because this gal is workin’ it. She has brilliantly managed to find men who will actually DATE her vs. just swap emails/texts/etc. Every time I go to her site she had done something super fun on a date. I can’t get a guy to stop emailing and meet for drinks and she is having guys taste wedding cakes with her (I take that back. I could have gone on that killer yacht trip if I really wanted to). I’m telling you she is some sort of dating superstar!

If you would like to read a more positive (I’m not saying that I’m not positive … wait … who am I kidding … if you are reading this then you’ve read my blog and I can’t pull one over on you!) response to mid-30’s ish dating then head on over to Lisa’s blog for some fun!

http://weblogs.cw33.com/news/local/projecthusband/

Why Tri?

12 Monday Jul 2010

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I received an email from the PR woman for TrekWomen asking “Why I Tri”. She is looking for information on why the participants in the next TrekWomen CA race signed up in an effort to raise awareness of the event.

Now I’m happy she sent me this email as it made me look up info on the Sprint I signed up for. I was thinking it was mid Nov which means I had a month before my training should begin. WRONG! The race is early Oct. which means my training should have started last weekend. Oops. Well I did a 5K so I suppose that kinda counts. Time to brush of the cobwebs on my bike (i hate the bike) and get a new pair of daytime swimming goggles. Thurs. morning Bar Method will have to be pushed for swimming and the heat is coming which means weekend hikes with Riggins will be harder. Easier to force myself to go biking when it’s hot then to worry about poor black Riggins dying of heat exhaustion.

So back to the question … Why Do I Tri? Sadly I don’t have a good story. Nothin’. No dramatic reason why I was driven to sign up for my first, second, and now third race. One year my friend Martha did the Tri with her Step Mom. She loved it and I was more than slightly jealous that she had completed something so cool. I swore I’d sign up with her the next year and she held me to that. Martha dragged me to the Rose Bowl Aquatic center, which became my second home as I love swimming more than any other exercise. (Can’t wait to get back into the pool. Although it’s packed now so I’ll have to arm wrestle some small children and H2O team members for a lane.) I’d call my mom and dad after each swim to announce, “I didn’t drown!”.

The weekend of the race a mutual friend, Martha, and I went down early to sit through orientation and race. We had a blast! My time wasn’t fast but I did it and could now say I had completed a Triathlon (sounds more impressive when you leave off the “sprint” part of it).

This year (just a week prior to my 36th b-day) my friend Giovanna and I signed up for the Pasadena Reverse Tri (run, bike, swim vs swim, bike, run). Again my time wasn’t fast but I had oodles of fun and felt like I did something really great for myself. Even with my horrific Easter Egg colored tri-suit on.

I don’t want to admit it but the Pasadena Reverse Tri is a shorter distance than most sprints which means for my one in Oct. I better start running, swimming & peddling to get ready — now (well actually last weekend)! Still I know I’ll be happy I did it.

Remind me I said that in about a month 1/2 when I’m in pain from trying to train and “brick” training keeps me from going to see the summer movies and I’m near tears.

So why do I tri? I guess because I can!

Hey Farmer, This is a No Plowing Zone

09 Friday Jul 2010

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Another well thought out match from Chemsitry.com today:

In his own words – “that she is onesta, sincera and very romantic,and very lovely and that ne respects S A . something that it does not like of that it says it to me.to see as to solve to the problem, and I plow the same,because I am and plow the same and very pasive hatred the violence.”

I can’t even think of what he means to say when he says “plow.” I have to assume he means plow.

So Now My Future Depends on Pictures?

08 Thursday Jul 2010

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Chemistry.com isn’t like some dating sites. You don’t get to thumb through the entire database looking for models (or liars that post old pictures of themselves) instead they give you matches. You then say if you are interested or not and that person is alerted. As we know I rarely hear back from these “gentlemen”. Recently though I did. Woo hooo! Now you can choose the stupid steps Chemistry gives you of back and forth silly questions and games or you can just send an email. He sent me “5 questions” (5 dumb cookie cutter questions someone at Chemistry.com got paid to think up). I played along, answered his questions and got his answers. Then I was done playing the reindeer games and sent him an email. He ignored that email and sent me the “love it or leave it” (more on that in a sec.). Obviously he likes the games and email scares him. In love it or leave it the person is given 6 computer randomly chosen pictures and you say if you love it or leave it. Then you compare the answers with the other person to see if you should fall madly in love or not. Sigh.

Above is our “comparison”. I’m not sure what this means as I didn’t get a guide into reading silly Chemistry game answers. Obviously we can’t fall madly in love as we didn’t get all 5 matched. Bummer. I’d like to point out I struggled with a few of these as I live in the grey. Not so much black and white. Hot Weather for example. It’s okay to a point but I can’t do extreme heat for long or I’ll either dehydrate and die or become a sweaty ball of ewe (like the Wicked Witch). And “Scented Candles” .. what scent? I can do pumpkin and have numerous ones in the house. I like some scented candles which anyone who has been to my house will know but ‘SCENTED’ = ‘SMELLY’ to me and I don’t want someone showing up to a date with a rose/violet smash scent of allergy sneezing fumes candle coming at me.

See … this game is dumb.

I’m Speechless

08 Thursday Jul 2010

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That rarely happens but you tell me what you would say if Chemistry.com matched you up with the following dreamboat:

Headline – DATING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF LIFE BECAUSE WITHOUT IT WE WILL NOT HAVE EXIST

In His Own Words – I AM A YOUNG MAN WHO IS SEPSRATED AND LOKING FOR A NEW PREFERABLE WHITE LADY WHO POLYGAMY MARRIGE IS NOT A PROBLEM TO HER AND IS READY FOR NEW WAY OF LIFE .FOR ME MARRIAGE DOES NOT MEAN STAYING TOGETHER IN ONE SHELTER BUT IS MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN TO ESTABLISHED THEIR FAMILLY THT IS TO LOVE EACH OTHER ,DELIVERED CHILDREEN AND GIVE THEM GOOD EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Profession – ISALES MANAGER AND CHARGE OF MARKETING OF OUR COMPANY PRODUC

Religious Background – FOR ME GOD HAS CREATED US WITH A PURPOSE AND THE PURPOSE IS TO WORSHIP HIM ALONE WITHOUT ASSOCIATING HIM WITH ANY OTHER CREATURE BECAUSE HE IS UNIQUE NO OTHER CREATURE IS LIKE HIM HE HAS NO FATHER NO MOTHER NO SON AND NO DOUGHTER ALL BELONG TO HIM

Movie he has recently enjoyed – I ENJOY THE GLADIATOR BECAUSE HE IS A MAN WHO HAVE WHAT WE CALL HEART

Speechless right? Told you.