She's A Workin' Girl Now!

     Got the job at Ruby Tuesdays, Mt. Juliet. I'm a server, and in training. Only one day left of training actually. It's much less formal than I had expected, and I enjoy knowing how restaurants work, I'd always wondered! There's a lot of down time, when pretty much no body is there, which isn't helpful, but as far as first jobs go, I think it will be a win. The toughest part is learning the menus.
     This gets rid of a lot of my free time, I just have to make sure I don't fall behind on school work. I'm working on class planning for next semester, and I'm thinking I'll take a summer class. Easier, leaves me with less free time, and I won't be as slammed this coming semester. Of course, I have no way to know what I'll be doing during the summer, so it's all in the air. Too many decisions!
     3.5 Weeks until Baltimore, and 6 until Oregon! Got my exams rescheduled, and I'm ready for time to fly! If only I could jump ahead about 3 weeks. I'd be in heaven! Working brunch this morning, gym, groceries, and church when I get off. Nice to have things I need to do! We had a food show on Thursday, which is where they prepare about 20 dishes and show us, then we can eat them. Well, I ate PLENTY. I have plenty of things to recommend to guests! Veggie options, and such, which the other staff thought was bland.

Happy Sunday!

2 Weeks down.... 3 To Go.

     BLARG! I can't express to you how much depletion workouts kiss my blessed little booty. I sound like a man while leg pressing. What's going on here?! Per the title... I've finished two weeks, and have 3 left until I'm done and head out for Thanksgiving to show off what I've (Hopefully) accomplished! Eating little food doesn't get to me at all. It's just those 2 stinky high rep work outs. Humph.
     In other vacation news! I read on my University 1010 syllabus that the last day of classes is December 8th. Therefore, I booked my flight for December 10. Well...... someone brought to my attention that all 3 of my exams happen to be .... December 14th. Yep. You read that right. While I'm in Oregon. Whoopsie! I've been working on connecting with teachers to make sure I take them before I leave. I feel bad about it, but I was misinformed by a formal document! On my countdowns... I leave for Baltimore in exactly a month! and I fly to OR 2 weeks after I get back. Ahhhh! Those are the only things keeping me going through school.
     I got invited to a birthday party down town last night, and to the mall today. I'm feeling kind of popular seeing as I never get invited ;) I got some great pictures too! Funny news.... I was cleaning my ears out with a Q tip, and blocked my ear drum with wax. I just got them flushed... OUCH! Never again will I be using Q tips!

Because You Deserve it.

Have you ever had someone look at you and say "I'm giving you .... because you deserve it." As in, you're valuable, and you're good enough to have this gift. I think it's kind of assumed when we get something that the person giving it felt it was deserved. Someone might talk about you saying "they deserve better," but how often does someone look at you and say it? I've only ever had one person do it to me. A lot like how I believe we should tell people on a regular basis how we feel about them, I believe we should say the things out loud that are sometimes assumed. Both of these practices are often exhibited in a blooming couple, but lost later. Forget it in friendships. Sometimes family.. but usually just that you love them. Or you couldn't live without them. Not something that isn't ever said like "you're worth it and deserve it". When I go to say something as such, I first think "How would I feel if someone said it to me?" and usually I'm like ....whoa! Every once in a while I feel like I have to, or appear to be fishing for the acknowledgment. As in, I say it just to hear it. Which can be true, not usually, but can be. There are days when you just need to hear a genuine statement. The moments however, that mean the most, are when you're not doing anything, or saying anything, it just comes out of someone's mouth out of left field. If someones means a fair amount to me, I want to make sure not only that they know that, but that they realize it's no matter what, its always, and that they feel like they're worthy, and worth it. If you ask me where this comes from, I can't tell you. Could it be that I felt like I wasn't, or that I needed to hear such things more in the past? I'm not sure. All I can tell you, is that I'm making sure others can't confirm that exact statement.

What If?

     Someone said something to me yesterday, which we hear all the time, and I know it, but I suppose in this particular context I hadn't thought about it. We only have one life, and I don't want to spend mine wondering "What if I had?" I've unknowingly already applied this to areas of my life, just didn't look at it through this glass. When I dropped culinary. If I hadn't, I would've looked back thinking "What if I HAD done what I wanted.. Would I be happier?" Or.. "What if I had stayed with weight loss... where would I be? Sure glad I can't think those things now. Both life changing, and I feel I made the right decision with both.
     Do you live making sure that you can't look back on something big and say "What if I had?" I can't explain why this struck me so deeply, but it did. Why do we let things stop us, when we aren't going to get another chance. What could we possibly have to lose that we can't get back later? One Life. No "I can do it in 3 years" stuff. One chance. Use the opportunities wisely. Spontaneity is a word for a reason. Ok, so maybe I would be well balanced by a half that thinks through things thoroughly, but what are parents and friends for? To bounce ideas off of.. Hmm.

Jen's Gone Paleo!

First off.... I don't know why you would think I would be referring to myself. My name has 2 N's! Second, I don't eat meat, so it would be hard. Third... I love to find ways to put flaxmeal in things!


Jen's Gone Paleo: Apple-Pecan Flaxy goodness! (muffins)

I adapted the recipe that I found here.

½ cup almond flour 

½ cup flax meal
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg 

4 dates

1 Cup egg Sub
2 Tablespoons coconut oil

2/3 cup water

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened) 

3 oz. dried apples (no sugar added)

1. In a large bowl combine almond flour, flax meal, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt
2. In a blender, blend dates, dried apples, eggs, coconut oil and water on high speed until very smooth
3. Mix wet ingredients into dry, then stir in sesame seeds, shredded coconut, and pecans
4. Spoon batter into lined (or sprayed) muffin tins
5. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes (for six large muffins) or 17-22 minutes (for nine medium muffins)
6. Cool and serve

Notes:  (1) Almond flour is expensive. Do yourself a flavor, and throw almonds into a food processor! (2) The batter is more like a dough, but more wet than dough; don't panic. (3) These are VERY moist. Either consume quickly, or freeze; they will mold within about 4 days. (4) If you try these, and have no blessed idea what Paleo is, it's very low carb very high fat. So know what you're consuming.

Here's mine!!

And I'm always feeling generous and musical, so here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-wyZpAByIE

The Ides of March

     I went to see this film, and it was good. I almost recommended my Fundamentals of Government teacher offer it as extra credit...... but I withdrew from that class yesterday. Yep, you read me. I was faced with so much reading, and things I'd never heard of in my life. While I know that's the entire point of schooling is to learn new things, I can only handle so much. I'm an adequate reader, when you put reasonable amounts of reading in front of me, or of course, it's something that interests me. Honestly, the information was actually quite interesting. It talked about the power in the governments of the world, and the kinds of governments, electoral systems, and so on. Stuff worth knowing about! I just don't absorb it nearly as fast as they're throwing it at me. This does make me feel stupid, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it. A friend of mine dislikes college because they take a semester to teach him what he can learn in a much shorter period of time. SIGH. On an up, perhaps now I can put some time into math, which I should be getting much better grades in.
     Other happenings today? Finished up my first bulk. Was alright... Nothing too special, except the satisfaction of weekly strength increases. Things have been learned. Such as when you put excruciatingly large amounts of weight on a standing calf raise, it will cause you to bruise! Or... when you have a spotter, you're likely to get more reps because of the psychological aspect that you know you won't die. Lastly, I got caught under my first barbell. It was a shining moment!
     What now? I have 6 days off, then I cut for 5 weeks before going to Baltimore for Thanksgiving. My family there hasn't seen me in 3 years, and well... I'm MUCH different than I was then! When I get back, I'll have 2 weeks of school left before I hop on a plane to OR. Can't describe my excitement for both of these things. As previously stated, I have an airplane obsession, so I'm psyched! Baltimore is a one way, but Oregon is obviously returning (sadly). My first post of the year was about my goals, one of which was to make it to CO..... so I booked a flight that had a layover there! I know, I'm silly, but it counts. I might get stranded there even since I had to book the worst airline in existence, but hey... I'll be there!
     Lastly, just incase you wanted to know... I can't cook rice. Don't laugh at me. I can make any breakfast in your imagination, but rice isn't something I'm capable of concocting!

Come Fly with me, Come Fly, Let's Fly Away!

     I love living right next to the airport. Interstate too, but the airport more so. I can hear the planes coming and going, and it's like non-stop vicarious living! I have an unprecedented love for flying, and airplanes. My dream career is a flight attendant and personal trainer while I'm home. It can be done, and it might be what I get to do. You never know! I just LOVE flying. My favorite thing after school, is to catch an airplane while it's landing or taking off, because I drive right next to the run way, and you can see the little people's heads in the planes! It's almost always Southwest for some reason. I've just about died (not literally) many times trying to turn around to watch them take off, or staring in my rear view to see if any are coming in from the East.
     It reminds me of Toy Story, when Woody and the girl are on Bullseye trying to save their friends when the plane is about to take off and one nearly lands on them.
     I'm flying to Baltimore for Thanksgiving this year! We go once every 3 years, and I'm glad I have school, because if I didn't, I would drive with my family, and not get to fly. Not to mention, that Wednesday, there will be a billion people because everyone's staying at work as long as possible. I also asked for a trip for my Xmas present for my parents. I want to visit a friend who's in OR for school. Nice LONG flight! Unfortunately, I only saw one stops... I love like 1,000, just because I love the airports ;)
     If you can't tell, my heart is in the sky. I have no clue how it got there. My family and I used to fly up every few years to visit people here in TN, but the last time I flew was 3 years ago when we went to Baltimore. Before that I got to go to California. Even if I have to spend my own money, I'll go somewhere else before the end of the year. It gives me a reason to get through the next 7 weeks of school.