Oh lord. I'm so behind in this blog. And it hurts my heart a little, because I love this challenge.
But FYI, I'm still here and haven't given up. Just swimming as fast and hard as I can.
In the meantime, here's a link roundup:
- Mickey Mouse and friends reimagined as humans.
- A timely and hilarious song for those of us in the 29-31 year-old range. *language alert!
- Foxy faceplants for LOLs.
- A Frozen + Breaking Bad mashup *spoiler alert!
- A really charming short story that I love. <3 p="">
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here are some insults with class, for those of you having a particularly hard day:
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." Winston Churchhill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." Clarence Darrow
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." Groucho Marx
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictonary."
William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." Oscar Wilde
"I feel so miserable without you, It's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop
"He is a self made man and worships his creator." John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy." Walter Kerr
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" Mark Twain
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." Oscar Wilde
Carpe diem, friends.
SQUATS: Guh, no....
SPLITS: Nope
BOOKS: A couple pages!!
WATER: Eh, did ok.
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sick. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014: Day 18 "Motivations, Part 2"
So: while perfectionism is an old, familiar nemesis, I've had a new adversary rear its thorny head this year.
Spotlight.
Recognition.
Admiration.
Gratitude.
I want them.
At my core, I'm doing the GPP because I love it. I love theatre and I love creating art, and I have been overwhelmingly proud of all the things we've accomplished this year, of all the things I've accomplished this year. Plus, it's an excellent chance to hone my admittedly wimpy leadership skills - and those particular social muscles are definitely getting an intense workout.
But.
Then come these sharp pangs. After the work is over...but there was no fanfare. After I've given it my all, and worked my butt off, and (usually) done more than everyone else to pull things together or make sure things go as planned. I feel hungry for someone to acknowledge my work. And not just a "thanks Anna!" or "You guys did great!" -- no, at their strongest, these pangs are for Academy Award sized GLORY. With crowds of adoring fans on their feet, shouting my name and throwing flowers and chocolate and presents at me. Statues and plaques erected in my honor, for all future Gwangjuvians to admire...
LOL.
I don't get that. Which is obviously ok. But sometimes it feels like there aren't even that many people who know how much effort I've put into this or that event. And I want to blurt it out in conversations, and shake people by the shoulders to make them care about it, and impress them with HOW IMPRESSIVE I AM WITH MY IMPRESSIVE SELF.
I keep having to pull myself up short, and reaffirm my motivations. If I'm doing these volunteer jobs for the (nonexistent) fame and for people to make me feel good about myself, then I'm doing them for the wrong reasons.
Because if I'm not willing to do it for zero recognition, then I shouldn't be doing it, period.
Because in the end, I'm a volunteer! I don't have to be doing any of this. And while I enjoy a thorough back-pat as much as the next gal, I also enjoy working with my hands, and doing a bang-up, smashing job on whatever projects I take on. And for the most part, I've done just that: By the end of this year, I'll have produced 3 major productions, directed a farce, co-created 2 resource textbooks for native teachers in Korea, and I'll have established the GPP firmly enough in the community that it won't die out after I leave.
**PAT PAT**
I'm learning & growing heaps this year, and this is part of the process. I'm proud of myself, and that'll do for now. (That'll do, Pig, that'll do....)
Carpe diem, divas.
SQUATS: NO :(
SPLITS: NONE :(
BOOKS: I read half a page?
WATER: I'm still doing awesome with water. Feeling mostly somewhat healed, but wary of backsliding, since I have a PERFORMANCE on Saturday. Eeep!
Spotlight.
Recognition.
Admiration.
Gratitude.
I want them.
But.
Then come these sharp pangs. After the work is over...but there was no fanfare. After I've given it my all, and worked my butt off, and (usually) done more than everyone else to pull things together or make sure things go as planned. I feel hungry for someone to acknowledge my work. And not just a "thanks Anna!" or "You guys did great!" -- no, at their strongest, these pangs are for Academy Award sized GLORY. With crowds of adoring fans on their feet, shouting my name and throwing flowers and chocolate and presents at me. Statues and plaques erected in my honor, for all future Gwangjuvians to admire...
LOL.
I keep having to pull myself up short, and reaffirm my motivations. If I'm doing these volunteer jobs for the (nonexistent) fame and for people to make me feel good about myself, then I'm doing them for the wrong reasons.
Because if I'm not willing to do it for zero recognition, then I shouldn't be doing it, period.
Because in the end, I'm a volunteer! I don't have to be doing any of this. And while I enjoy a thorough back-pat as much as the next gal, I also enjoy working with my hands, and doing a bang-up, smashing job on whatever projects I take on. And for the most part, I've done just that: By the end of this year, I'll have produced 3 major productions, directed a farce, co-created 2 resource textbooks for native teachers in Korea, and I'll have established the GPP firmly enough in the community that it won't die out after I leave.
**PAT PAT**
I'm learning & growing heaps this year, and this is part of the process. I'm proud of myself, and that'll do for now. (That'll do, Pig, that'll do....)
Carpe diem, divas.
SQUATS: NO :(
SPLITS: NONE :(
BOOKS: I read half a page?
WATER: I'm still doing awesome with water. Feeling mostly somewhat healed, but wary of backsliding, since I have a PERFORMANCE on Saturday. Eeep!
Monday, November 17, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014: Day 17 "Motivations, Part 1"
I find myself having to constantly check my motivations this year, particularly regarding my volunteer activities. There's a constant struggle to satisfy both my perfectionist tendencies and my desire for recognition.
PERFECTIONISM:
I've struggled for most of my life with accepting my imperfections and failures. As a child, I sincerely wanted to be perfect, or as perfect as possible. As an adult, it still flares up.
For instance: I was in charge of printing the posters for the GPP's upcoming play, and I neglected to send one of our sponsor's logos to the poster designer. He didn't notice, and I didn't notice, until I'd already gotten the dang things all glossy and printed up. In the middle of a GPP committee meeting, I proudly brought out the posters, only to have another member point out that actually, I'd forgotten one of our biggest sponsor's logos.
In the moment, all I could hear in my head was "SCREW UP. INCOMPETENT. How could you forget that? Why are you the president again?", etc.
What actually came out of my mouth was, "Dammit. My bad, folks. Hm. I'll print small logos and affix them to the posters before hanging up any more." This was a reasonable and good solution, and everyone moved on.
But I felt shame and humiliation and anger at myself for the rest of the evening over this (ultimately small) mistake. And in the end, what good were these emotions? They were wasted energy. The issue was already resolved. People weren't whispering about my mistake behind my back and pointing and laughing. (*Though, if they were, WHO NEEDS THEM, EH?? ^_^) Friends and family didn't suddenly love me less, or think worse of me. It was just my ego: My desire to always seem in control and on top of everything and, well, perfect.
Perhaps there's always a tiny bit of self-kicking necessary to remind us to do things differently next time, but after a point, it's more harmful than helpful. (Don't ask me where the line is, 'cuz I don't know)
I've actually become pretty darn good at forgiving myself, which means that these flare ups are typically few and far between. When my motivations are clear - to do my best, to have a good time, to enjoy the results of hard work - the mistakes and screw ups are put in perspective, as part of the whole process. They don't ruin it, they build it.
Here's to all our future screw ups!
SQUATS: Nope.
SPLITS: Sorry.
BOOKS: Got nothin.
WATER: SO MUCH WATER!
EDIT: written mostly on time, posted waaaaaay late
p.s. I can't stop laughing over this gif:
PERFECTIONISM:
I've struggled for most of my life with accepting my imperfections and failures. As a child, I sincerely wanted to be perfect, or as perfect as possible. As an adult, it still flares up.
For instance: I was in charge of printing the posters for the GPP's upcoming play, and I neglected to send one of our sponsor's logos to the poster designer. He didn't notice, and I didn't notice, until I'd already gotten the dang things all glossy and printed up. In the middle of a GPP committee meeting, I proudly brought out the posters, only to have another member point out that actually, I'd forgotten one of our biggest sponsor's logos.
In the moment, all I could hear in my head was "SCREW UP. INCOMPETENT. How could you forget that? Why are you the president again?", etc.
What actually came out of my mouth was, "Dammit. My bad, folks. Hm. I'll print small logos and affix them to the posters before hanging up any more." This was a reasonable and good solution, and everyone moved on.
But I felt shame and humiliation and anger at myself for the rest of the evening over this (ultimately small) mistake. And in the end, what good were these emotions? They were wasted energy. The issue was already resolved. People weren't whispering about my mistake behind my back and pointing and laughing. (*Though, if they were, WHO NEEDS THEM, EH?? ^_^) Friends and family didn't suddenly love me less, or think worse of me. It was just my ego: My desire to always seem in control and on top of everything and, well, perfect.
Perhaps there's always a tiny bit of self-kicking necessary to remind us to do things differently next time, but after a point, it's more harmful than helpful. (Don't ask me where the line is, 'cuz I don't know)
I've actually become pretty darn good at forgiving myself, which means that these flare ups are typically few and far between. When my motivations are clear - to do my best, to have a good time, to enjoy the results of hard work - the mistakes and screw ups are put in perspective, as part of the whole process. They don't ruin it, they build it.
Here's to all our future screw ups!
SQUATS: Nope.
SPLITS: Sorry.
BOOKS: Got nothin.
WATER: SO MUCH WATER!
EDIT: written mostly on time, posted waaaaaay late
p.s. I can't stop laughing over this gif:
Sunday, November 16, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014: Day 16 "Mawwiage"
Today was another day full of not winning at anything but drinking water. No squats, splits, nor books were accomplished today. Instead I...
- bought a clothes dryer off a friend who is leaving (goodbyeeee Amanda and Harry and Stewart!!) which means I am now the luckiest foreigner in Korea.
Proof:
 |
| It's hilariously a size-petite dryer, so I can only fit about 1 towel plus 1 sock at a time |
- practiced my 3 musical numbers during the 4.5-hr-long Cabaret dress rehearsal
Proof:
 |
| Me on the far right as the Hunyak, aka "Uh-uh" |
- presided over a productive meeting for the GPP Players over dinner.
Proof: ....oops. I forgot to take a pic of everyone! >:-[
- felt sick during all the above happenings, but managed to get thru them with some semblance of dignity (at least in my head, haha).
But: the best and worst part about today is that it is the wedding day of my cousin Matthew.
Mattcho and his mom, Aunt Marnell (aka, Aunt Marnie, Mommy-Not) lived with us for a while during my childhood, so he's kinda like a 4th little brother. Not so little, though! He's grown up - way, way, WAAAAAY up - and today is the day he marries his college sweetheart, Elizabeth.
Mattcho and his mom, Aunt Marnell (aka, Aunt Marnie, Mommy-Not) lived with us for a while during my childhood, so he's kinda like a 4th little brother. Not so little, though! He's grown up - way, way, WAAAAAY up - and today is the day he marries his college sweetheart, Elizabeth.
I'm so very thrilled for them, but hating really hard that Adam and I aren't there to celebrate their happy day. Our jobs here don't really allow time off for cousin's weddings. :(
So, happy wedding day, Matt and Elizabeth. Here's hoping the fistfuls of cash we're throwing your way at least partly make up for our absences! ;)
Carpe diem, lovers.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014: Day 15 "Mayday"
So I'm definitely sick. Spent all morning in bed, and then had to teach an English class, teach a swing dancing class, and then rehearse the Cell Block Tango with my co-stars. Tomorrow is the dress rehearsal for our Cabaret night, so fingers crossed I have energy & voice enough to wobble through.
Here's a pretty picture of the sunrise, tho:
Carpe *cough* diem...
SQUATS: none :'(
SPLITS: none :'(
BOOKS: nothin' :'(
WATER: winning! Holy crap I've drunk 5 cups of tea and huge quantities of water, plus some Sprite. Hydrated? Oh yeah.
Friday, November 14, 2014
NaBloPoMo 2014: Day 14 "SorryNotSorry"
Oh no.
It's happening.
That icky feeling in the back of my throat.
The paling appetite.
The fatigue....
I'M ON THE BRINK OF GETTING SICK AGAIN.
It can't happen. I won't let it happen. Before starting this year's challenge, I re-read all my blog posts from NaBloPoMo 2013, and I was starting to feel cocky because I was sick TWICE last November, but have been as healthy as a horse so far this month. It's true! Pride doeth go before a falleth.
Something must be done.
Health must be overtaken, with blogging violence, if need be.
Soooo I'm going to pursue my typical emergency sickness evasion maneuvers: drink buckets of liquids (check), eat whatever you want (kinda check - this IS Korea), and sleep as much as is humanly possible. Thus, I leave you, sweet readers... Sad. Bereft. But hopeful that together we will CONQUER this virus and SLAY the bacterial infections and WIN the battle for Anna's healthy body.
Let me also just take a second here to apologize to my husband for canceling date night. It's for your own good, boo. <3 p="">
Off to bed, I go!
Carpe noctem!
SQUATS: 135, DONE. :'(
SPLITS: Did my 3:10 secs, despite the rush to bed. HA!
BOOKS: Knocked out a lot of reading today, thanks to multiple rides on public transporation, and an enforced 30 minute break of doing nothing (but reading) while I waited for the printing shop to open during my lunch break. 105/176
WATER: I did so good today. So. Good. 4 cups of tea, 2 mugs of warm water, one water bottle and a sprite.
It's happening.
That icky feeling in the back of my throat.
The paling appetite.
The fatigue....
I'M ON THE BRINK OF GETTING SICK AGAIN.
It can't happen. I won't let it happen. Before starting this year's challenge, I re-read all my blog posts from NaBloPoMo 2013, and I was starting to feel cocky because I was sick TWICE last November, but have been as healthy as a horse so far this month. It's true! Pride doeth go before a falleth.
Something must be done.
Health must be overtaken, with blogging violence, if need be.
Soooo I'm going to pursue my typical emergency sickness evasion maneuvers: drink buckets of liquids (check), eat whatever you want (kinda check - this IS Korea), and sleep as much as is humanly possible. Thus, I leave you, sweet readers... Sad. Bereft. But hopeful that together we will CONQUER this virus and SLAY the bacterial infections and WIN the battle for Anna's healthy body.
Let me also just take a second here to apologize to my husband for canceling date night. It's for your own good, boo. <3 p="">
Off to bed, I go!
Carpe noctem!
SQUATS: 135, DONE. :'(
SPLITS: Did my 3:10 secs, despite the rush to bed. HA!
BOOKS: Knocked out a lot of reading today, thanks to multiple rides on public transporation, and an enforced 30 minute break of doing nothing (but reading) while I waited for the printing shop to open during my lunch break. 105/176
WATER: I did so good today. So. Good. 4 cups of tea, 2 mugs of warm water, one water bottle and a sprite.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
NaBloPoMo: Day 12 "Eleven"
Yesterday was 11/11, and I would like to dedicate this post to the number 11.
I fell in love with 11 the day after learning the 9s multiplication tables (10s I already knew), when I learned the 11s times tables and found out that multiplication was actually a FUN GAME when you got to 11. Not work, not memorization, GAMES.
11 x 14? 1 _ 4 then add the numbers in the middle space to get 154.
11 x 26? 2_6, add them, = 286
11 x 59? 5_9, add them, = 649
I'm also a fan of balance and symmetry (usually), and I find 11 to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing numbers out there.
At what time of day/night do you get to stop and make a wish (if you catch it accidentally on the clock)? 11:11.
On what day do we honor war vets in the USA? 11/11.
On what birthday did Bilbo Baggins vanish, and set the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy into motion? 111. (Eleventy-first)
At what time was I born?? 11pm.
Need I say more?
Well, even if you haven't suddenly decided that 11 is also YOUR new favorite number, that's all I have to say today. Sore throat's better, but still sore, and I'm crashing into bed at 9pm for the second day in a row. Here's hoping all this sleeping and tea-drinking is making a difference...
And to round off this eleventh + 1 post, here's a photo of an excellent specimen of one of my favorite trees, the ginkgo:
Taken this morning, FYI.
Carpe November!
P.S. Abs & squats, CHECK! Today was a very timely "rest day." ^^
Minimalism, CHECK. Adam & I were supposed to donate things that we're holding onto "just in case." Turns out we have 2 types of items in our apt: things we use regularly, and things we use seasonally (Christmas decor, suitcases, guest towels, etc). There really aren't a lot of items we keep on hand "in case." But I did decide to chuck my bag o' bags that I've been hoarding. Any time I get a new paper bag with good handles, I fold it into a bigger bag, JUST IN CASE I need one someday. Thing is, I accumulate these bags a whole lot more quickly than I use them, and now I just have an overflowing paper bag full of paper bags that I needed all of twice... GONE.
Monday, November 11, 2013
NaBloPoMo: Day 11 "Sick Leave"
9AM: It's day 11! I'm officially more than a third of the way done with all these challenges.
...time passes...
7PM: I was planning on continuing my "goals" theme today, but it is amazing what a difference a mere 10 hours can make. This morning I felt sluggish, but fine. Now, however, I'm curled up in bed with the heat blasting, trying to stretch out the time between swallows as much as possible due to the RAGING sore throat I've suddenly contracted. Out of the blue!! And it hurts like hell, too. Makes last week's brush with sickness look like a sham, actually.
So, I'm not writing more, tonight. Instead, here are some videos/websites I've found recently that made an impression. Enjoy:
Carpe November!
P.s. Abs, CHECK.
Squats, CHECK. I managed to do them all at work before the pain made me too miserable.
Minimalism, I'm gonna say CHECK. But it's cheating, because today's another non-challenge. We're supposed to get rid of all our childhood toys, aaaaand... We have none. At least, not here. I'm sure our respective parents have some objects we could get around to tossing (Mom? Anything if mine you've been hoping to get rid if? ^_^), but that's not something we can accomplish here in Korea. Sometimes, kids, cheating's ok. G'night!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
NaBloPoMo: Day 5 "Sick"
Well. Turns out that yesterday's exhaustion and last night's incredible SLEEP-O-RAMA (almost 10 hours straight) were really just signs pointing to the sore throat that finally sprang into being this afternoon. Boo hiss whine pout wahh.
But from my goals I shall not be detained!! (Delayed? Distracted? Deterred? All of those D-words)
I'm particularly proud of Adam and I for sticking to our minimalism challenge and going through our summer wardrobe and chucking anything we didn't wear this past year (seasonal items don't count).
This was the resulting heap:
Absolutely no one will be surprised to learn that exactly ONE of those items of clothing was from Adam, the rest, mine.
I even slogged through my squats at work(10 squats. Read some of Ender's Game. Teach. Repeat seven times.), and did my abs challenge just before leaping into bed. Probably not the best timing for the abs, but surely better than not doing them at all?
Sick days are days when routines can really pay off - if I had a workout routine built more solidly into my day, it would be easier to stick to when I'm not feeling 100% on top of things. As it was, my pride was mostly the hero in keeping me on track today. "Way to go, Ego! You've proved your worth today. Love you way mucho." "No, no, Anna, I love YOU." "Awww, go on."
...
I don't know what that was.
...
Okay byeeeeee!
Carpe November!
P.s. Squats, CHECK.
Abs, CHECK.
Minimalism, CHECK.
Sick, CHECK.
Friday, August 5, 2011
*hack* *cough* *bleagh*
Ladies and gents, this unexpected pause in updates does not come from a lack of stories to tell - there is so much fun and excitement going on! It comes, unfortunately, as a testament to my apparently lacking white blood cell count. I've had a sore throat and all the trimmings for the past 4 days, and it's driving me crazy!
Plans I have that don't include being sick:
- Our 2-year anniversary celebration, which I'll tell you ALL about when I'm better (it was Aug 1st! Yay marriage!).
- Dying my hair for the first time.
- The 3-day visit of Maria Elena, Irina and Eric, happening THIS WEEKEND, right now, in New Orleans.
- The week-long vacation Adam and I have coming up this Monday, when we'll spend 7 days in Pine Mountain GA, with family and Callaway Gardens.
So, here's to hot tea and Emergen-C and long naps & a heart-breakingly wonderful husband who has been covering my shifts the past 3 days so I can take those naps.
Once I get past this evil head congestion, I'll be able to properly express how excited I am/have been about all the previously mentioned events.
*Cough*.
Plans I have that don't include being sick:
- Our 2-year anniversary celebration, which I'll tell you ALL about when I'm better (it was Aug 1st! Yay marriage!).
- Dying my hair for the first time.
- The 3-day visit of Maria Elena, Irina and Eric, happening THIS WEEKEND, right now, in New Orleans.
- The week-long vacation Adam and I have coming up this Monday, when we'll spend 7 days in Pine Mountain GA, with family and Callaway Gardens.
So, here's to hot tea and Emergen-C and long naps & a heart-breakingly wonderful husband who has been covering my shifts the past 3 days so I can take those naps.
Once I get past this evil head congestion, I'll be able to properly express how excited I am/have been about all the previously mentioned events.
*Cough*.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The power of Microsoft Paint
 |
Don't worry, neither of us is sick at the moment - I drew this several weeks ago when both Adam and I were feeling crummy and ill. It made him laugh, which made me feel better, which made him feel better, which made both of us feel less crummy. Even without kisses.
.
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