2 Miles 2 Errands

Usually, people say they are going to “run” some errands. Today, I walked my errands.   Before lunch, I mapped out how far the post office was from my office. It was almost exactly 1 mile each way. It was very hot and humid outside (mid 80’s), so I didn’t really want to walk. But, I put on my tennis shoes and my extra deodorant and did it anyway. I had happy hour plans with my old coworker friend, and I knew I would not feel like going to the gym late on a Friday night. The closer I got to the post office, the more I regretted it. I was really starting to sweat. My little sister warned me before I left that it was too warm, and that I would probably smell like a wet dog by the time I got back to the office. She also didn’t hesitate to remind me how unprofessional that would be for me to return to the law firm sweaty and funky. So, all I could think about while I walked, was the fact that I was going to run everybody out of the office with my sweaty odor. I returned a phone call to my Shopping Cousin who told me that she was so happy that I found my niche (writing). And she told me how much reading my blog brightened her day. That gave me a little boost of motivation. I pushed through the thick St. Louis heat, and made it to the post office where I took a few minutes to enjoy the cool air-conditioning. I left the post office, and power-walked down the street to the bank while I was on the phone catching up with my Big Little Sister. I’m so addicted to my phone. But, it was a good distraction. Anyway, the best part about walking outside is that regardless of how tired you are, you still have to get back to your starting point.  Finally, I made it back to my office with time to spare. I was sweating like I had been to the gym. I was so glad that my shirt was black and you couldn’t see the sweat spots on my back. Two miles isn’t a challenging distance for me, but it was just so sticky outside. I went to the bathroom and brushed my windblown hair and freshen up a little. It was a really great workout and a very productive lunch. I ran two errands and power walked two miles. I was also proud of myself for avoiding the cookie cake at the office baby shower. Instead, I opted for four small crackers and hummus, and fresh veggies. That’s about all folks! Have a Great Weekend!

Strange

My summer writing class is over, and I loved every minute of it. This is the first time that I ever wished a class was longer. That’s probably because I didn’t have to worry about getting a grade.
Since I knew I had class right after work, I walked just over a mile with my coworker friend during lunch. Yesterday I walked 2 miles during my lunch break with my other co-worker friend. I guess technically neither one of them are my co-workers anymore, but I call them that for simplicity sake. Every little bit of activity I can squeeze in counts. However, I have to be honest and say I ate a coney hot dog and cheese sticks from Sonic for dinner. Anyway, I wrote a fiction short story that I had a lot of fun with. Check it out, and let me know what you think. All input, good and bad is welcomed…but be nice, I’m still new at this!

“Strange” by Carli Fierce

     Until I met Seth, I thought all of the good guys were either gay or already married. Spending time with him these past few months has convinced me that there might still be hope for us single girls over 30. If things work out between us, I may not have to die old and alone. If I died an old maid, what would my pathetic tombstone say? “Here lies Tiffani Dearborn, professional dater, unable to keep a good man.” I shook my head, trying to shake the disturbing thoughts from my mind. I hope Seth really is the one, and I won’t have to succumb to such an awful lonely fate. “Tiffani Kenwood” I said aloud to myself, I liked the sound of that. I would definitely take his last name if we got married. Just the thought of marriage excited me and caused my mind to wander. I wonder if he wants kids, I’ll bet we would have cute kids as long they don’t get his big nose… The phone rang loudly and startled me out of my ridiculous fantasy world.
“Hey Mom” I answered after seeing her number on the caller ID.
“Tiff, I was calling to remind you that your Dad and I are going to Dallas for the weekend, and we need you to keep the dog.”
“I didn’t forget.” I said annoyed, because she’d only reminded me a few hundred times.
“Good, I was just calling to make sure you didn’t forget.”
“Okay, Mom I gotta go, Seth is on his way over for movie night.”
“Oh…Seth.” she sighed disappointedly.
“Oh, Seth? What does that mean?” I tried not to sound too irritated as put away the last of the clean dishes.
“Well Sweetie, I just think…well never mind.”
“What?” I asked even more agitated.
She replied, “I just think he’s kind of strange.”
“Mom, that’s not even a good way to describe somebody, you only met him once, I like Seth, and he’s really sweet.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll stay out of it, but just be careful.” She probably forgot that Seth is a police officer. I don’t think I can get any safer than that. I dismissed her non-sense as I lit candles around the house to finish setting the mood.
“Mom, I gotta go, he’ll be here in a few minutes, have a safe trip.” I said, trying to quickly end the conversation.
“Okay, don’t forget the dog”
“Bye, Mom.” I said as I hung up the phone before she could give me anymore unsolicited advice. Why couldn’t she just be happy that I was happy?
Everything was spotless, and I could see the neat lines in the freshly vacuumed carpet. I wanted everything to be perfect for movie night with Seth, although I had no clue what to wear for our first house date. I didn’t want to wear real date clothes just to sit on my couch, but somehow flannel PJ’s seemed too casual. I settled with fitted jeans that hugged all the right places, and a low cut purple tank top. I wanted to look and feel sexy, so I put on my matching bra and panties just in case we decided to take it to the next level. Seth rang the bell just as I finished applying my lip gloss. He always had perfect timing.
I could see his firm physique through his fitted T-Shirt as he greeted me with a fresh pizza. “I picked up a pizza on my way over, I got beef and veggies, since I know you don’t eat pork.” He said thoughtfully.
“Aww, Seth that’s so sweet thanks!” Any man that gives up pepperoni for me was a star in my book. I wish my Mom could see what a great guy he really is.
I fluffed the couch pillow, and motioned for Seth to sit down while I dug through the mail to get the movie. I assumed the new Denzel movie from Netflix was probably mixed in with the sales papers since I didn’t see it earlier. But, it was nowhere to be found. How could this be? Tonight is supposed to be perfect. I probably accidently threw it away during my frantic cleaning earlier. How were we going to have movie night with no movie? I eventually had to stop looking and remorsefully told Seth, I lost the movie.
“Seth, I’ve searched everywhere, and I can’t find the movie, I must have thrown it out with the junk mail. I’m so sorry; I wanted everything to be perfect tonight.”
“Babe, everything is perfect because we are here together.” My heart melted, it was almost as if he read the Good Guy Handbook. We cuddled on the couch for hours talking and watching TV. He was the perfect gentlemen and offered to take my trash out to the main apartment dumpster across the parking lot so I wouldn’t have to go out in the rain. I was sold on Seth. I couldn’t believe that didn’t even have to ask him to take my trash out. I chuckled, and said to myself, “just call me Mrs. Seth Kenwood.”
The next day, when I checked the mailbox, I found the missing red envelope. I immediately called Seth to let him know that I finally found the movie. “Where was it?” he asked. “Still at the post office I guess, they hadn’t even delivered it yet.”
“I figured, since I looked through the trash for you Babe.”
“You did what?!” I exclaimed. “When could you have gone through my trash, you didn’t leave until after one in the morning, and it was pitch black and pouring down rain.”
He explained “I put the trash bag in my car and took it home with me, so I could look for your movie.”
I was stunned and I felt violated. “You really went through my trash? You actually took my trash home with you?” I began to wonder if he was actually a caring thoughtful man or just plain creepy.
“I didn’t want you to get late fees.” He tried to explain.
“There are no late fees with Netflix!” I angrily screamed into the phone louder that I actually anticipated. I don’t know if I was more upset that my fairytale prince charming was turning into weirdo, or I bothered by the invasion of privacy with him digging through my trash. My harsh tone caught him off guard. “I’m sorry.” He mumbled confused by my anger. “I was just trying to help; I didn’t want you to worry about the movie.” He tried to find the right words to make all of this seem normal. “Umm, I put on gloves.” He acted as if the fact that he wore gloves made the already awkward situation better. In my opinion that actually made things worse …Maybe Mom was right.

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A Walk With the Marines

I took the first half hour of my lunch break to walk around downtown by the St. Louis Arch, since I knew I wouldn’t have time to work out this evening. It’s Marine Week. They had all sorts of fun stuff to look at. I browsed through all of the different exhibits and looked at the fighter jets, helicopters, huge guns and missiles. They even let you pick up the guns and shoot at the simulated targets.

There were sexy Marines everywhere. They were nice to look at, but I dated a Marine for a couple years, so I’m totally over that. After visiting the different stations, I took a quick walk up and down the stairs in front of the Arch to get my heart pumping a little more. Later that afternoon, they did an air show. The Marines jumped down out of the plane over the Mississippi River. Afterwards, about 10 of them climbed up the rope and flew threw the air on the dangling rope. Marines are fearless.

Oh, and remember Mr. No Call, No Show? Well, he showed up 3 weeks later, begging for forgiveness and wanted another date. And then….he canceled. Can we say ‘DONE!” As my Hollywood Aunt always says, people show you who they are the first time around, and its up to you to believe them.

Risking My Life

I’m still working it at work. After we ate steamed veggies with chicken and side salad, we headed outside and power walked for half an hour. I need to calculate the distance, but I’m sure it was over a mile. I’m so loving these results. I’ve lost about 6.5 pounds since I got back started on the right path a couple weeks ago. I had big plans to get back into the boot camp groove tonight, but my little sister called when she got home from school. She told me that she was “taking me to dinner in forest park, that she was driving and that when we got to the restaurant someone would buy our meal.” I’m so Type-A, and this loose plan of letting a brand new 16 year old driver “take” me to dinner and have it “paid for” by some mystery person was a not really specific enough for me. She told me to trust her. I had to drive over my parent’s house because she only has a learners driver’s permit.  But check this, she already has a CAR! I had to trudge for miles through the snow on Mizzou’s gigantic campus and maintain a 3.5 GPA for a whole year before I got my 1986 Chevy Celebrity, and this chick is a Junior in High School with a car. Okay, so I’m a little jealous, but she does keep a 3.8 GPA, so I ain’t mad at her. LOL!

Anyway, I held my breath as she drove dangerously close to the cars parked on the street and claimed that the kid on the bike across the street was “too close and in her way.” I told her I had better not be risking my life and skipping boot camp, just so she give me some bootleg turkey sandwich in the park parking lot where everyone goes to practice driving. She assured me it was a real sit down restaurant. I was still nervous, because I just don’t do surprises well….

She actually drove pretty good, until she simultaneously stopped, bowed her head, closed her eyes and sneezed. “What are you doing???!!” I shrieked. “I had to sneeze” she genuinely replied, “I made sure no one was behind me I before I stopped” …. “Child, please don’t stop the car in the middle of the street to sneeze.” Geez… Anyway, we pulled up to a restaurant in Forest park near the golf course that I never even knew existed. It was a dead giveaway then, the mystery money man had to be my Dad. He is a complete golf fanatic. Dad joined us a few minutes later and treated his daughters to dinner. I’m sure if my Big Little Sister reads this she’s gonna be mad we left her out. Well it wasn’t my plan sis, I just rode along,  get mad at the teenager. LOL! We had a great time, and I made it home safe and sound. Whew!
What Did Carli Eat Today?
B- Free donut in the kitchen at work, which of course not filling so I ate the banana bread I brought too.
L- Steamed veggies with chicken and a Side Salad
D-Philly cheese steak (took off half of the bread) with a side salad, and shared order of sweet potato fries. Dessert – A little bite of my sisters Apple streusel cheesecake.

Working it At Work

So my girlfriend at work it still helping me stay on plan. We take turns cooking lunch and bring enough to share. And then we workout for the second half of our lunch break. We’ve done it for about 5 days now. It’s so nice to have somebody at work helping me stay focused and encouraged. At get this, I was able to button those pants today!!!! I was so excited. My home scale even shows I’m down a couple of pounds, in just these few short days of eating better and writing down my food. Today, she made ground turkey, spinach and stewed tomatoes over rice. It was raining outside, so we hit the stairs. I brought my extra deodorant, so I was good to go. We walked down 9 flights. Caught the elevator up the 12th floor, walked back down to the 1st floor, and then climbed all the way back up to the 9th floor. We had a great workout. We were sweating for real. I had to go to the bathroom and get a cool towel to wipe my sweat. I felt such a sense of accomplishment.
I went to the grocery store after work since tomorrow is my day to bring lunch. I decided to make whole wheat pasta mixed with green beans and stewed tomatoes. You put the tomatoes, green beans and a cup of chicken broth in a pot to simmer, while the noodles are cooking. I added garlic, pepper and seasoned salt for a little flavor, oh and Italian seasoning. People laugh because I put Italian seasoning on everything…. Then you add a cup of fat-free ricotta cheese to the tomato mixture and warm it together. Then you stir in the tomato ricotta mixture with the noodles. This was my first time making this dish. It’s a recipe I got from this site, that has tons of recipes with the weight watcher points included. The recipe actually called for spinach, which I forgot to get at the grocery store, so I just used the green beans I had at home.  Mr. Man said it tasted good, and gave it a thumbs up. But, I almost forgot, to tell y’all when I got home from the grocery store, I still went on my Wednesday walk in the park with my best friend. Then came home and cooked. All and all I can say, good job Carli and pat myself on the back.
What Did Carli Eat Today?
B- Turkey sausage on eng muffin & an orange
L- My co-worker’s Turkey, spinach, tomato and rice stuff (It was really good too, and filing)
S- She also made “dessert” …Graham crackers filled with cool whip like an ice cream sandwich and put in the freezer. They were also very tasty.
D- Chicken and green beans, oh yeah, a biscut managed to somehow sneak in too.