It is no secret that I've probably spent more time in the gym this summer than I have in a very long while. There are several reasons for this: 1. I actually had time to spare and 2. I've lost weight since January and I wanted to keep it off... However, that's not what this post is about. Having spent so much time in the gym, I've noticed a lot of people's habits that really bother me/seem really rude!
So, let's talk about GYM ETIQUETTE!
1. There is clearly a sign that says "please limit your workout to 30 min during peak hours". That means, if you see people standing around waiting for a treadmill, be kind and give yours up after 30 min. Trust me, the ones waiting are very aware of how long your run has been going on!
2. Personal space is important. In a crowded group class, people often have to stand closer to others than they prefer. But, be respectful of HOW close you are standing to me in that class! If I can't put my hands out to the side without touching you, in my opinion, you are TOO CLOSE to me so BACK AWAY! haha
3. BE ON TIME to a group class. Nothing is more distracting than watching late folks walk in half way through the workout. AND, If you are late, don't you dare come try to squeeze into the front row with me... go stand in the back with the other late people. Some of us got there 10 min early so we could get a prime spot in the front!
(Can you tell I'm a little bitter about this??? there is a girl that is late every single week to my Wednesday/Thursday zumba class. She walks in 20 min after the class starts and ALWAYS marches right to the front to squeeze in right beside me! this breaks rule #2 and #3! Not only is she late, but she then takes up my personal space!)
4. This happened to me yesterday and may or may not have prompted this blog post... If I am standing somewhere clearly claiming my spot in a group class DO NOT come and put your purse right under my feet as if to claim your spot there too...talk about rude!
I'm starting to think that perhaps I should just take a video of all of my zumba instructors and then do the class in the comfort of my own home where no one will invade my personal space! haha
Are there things that people do at the gym that bother you? If so, share them!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
What A Difference A Year Makes!
Summer is a sacred time to all teachers. It is the 8 weeks during the year (that ALWAYS seem to fly by) where we don't have to worry about lesson plans, disciplining students, dealing with parents or wondering if we are going to be observed tomorrow.
Today, I was for lack of a better term "pouting" about the fact that I really wanted to go to the pool all week and it has been cloudy and rainy all week. Mind you, we need the rain badly, so I KNOW this is a good thing..but come on, can't I just get 1 pool day??? Then, I quickly snapped out of my funk when I started thinking about this summer as compared to last summer.
Last summer I was depressed because Chris had come home for his 2 weeks of R and R from Afghanistan and then left again. This is one of those things that is hard to understand if you are not an army spouse but letting them go back the second time (after r and r) is WAYYYYY harder then sending them off the first time at the beginning of deployment. I think it has something to do with the fact that you already know how much life stinks while they're deployed and you don't want to return to that stinky life after 2 weeks of bliss during R and R. We had our R and R in June last year so yes, a year ago from today, I was definitely depressed and missing Chris.
Last summer I was also stressed to the max with my graduate work. I had a professor (the same one for BOTH classes) who took over my life with assignments and papers. It was ridiculous! Not only was I stressed about my masters classes, but I was stressed about the beginning of the school year that was creeping closer and closer. I was feeling like a 1st year teacher all over again because I was about to begin teaching science in a different state to a different grade than I was used to with an entirely different curriculum at a new school! Yikes!
After reminiscing about all of that, I realized that my life is pretty darn awesome this summer (despite the fact that I was unable to go to the pool this week haha). Chris is home! Not only is he home, but we just returned from a fabulous week in Savannah and Charleston where we celebrated our anniversary and ate and drank to our hearts content! I'm NOT stressed at all. I'm done with my masters (in fact, I just sent in my paperwork to receive my pay raise woo hoo!!!) I'm not worried about the upcoming school year because I'm teaching the same thing I taught last year. Of course there will be some tweaking of lesson plans involved,. but overall, I'm ready for this school year. On top of all of that, with my extra time, I've been going to the gym (sometimes twice a day) and I LOVE that my body is in much better shape than last summer!
It's amazing how much stress your body can take when it needs to. However, I'm very glad that all of the stress from last summer is behind me and I'm able to have a relaxing and enjoyable summer! What a difference a year truly makes... I'd have to say that 27 is treating me much better than 26 :-)
I say all of this, not only to help me put my own life in perspective but to challenge all of you to do the same. Whether you're in an UP or DOWN in life right now... If you're in an upswing, great! So am I! Enjoy it and be thankful for it. If you're in a downswing in life right now, it's ok...I was there a year ago. Think to the future and how this too shall pass.
Happy Friday Yall!
Today, I was for lack of a better term "pouting" about the fact that I really wanted to go to the pool all week and it has been cloudy and rainy all week. Mind you, we need the rain badly, so I KNOW this is a good thing..but come on, can't I just get 1 pool day??? Then, I quickly snapped out of my funk when I started thinking about this summer as compared to last summer.
Last summer I was depressed because Chris had come home for his 2 weeks of R and R from Afghanistan and then left again. This is one of those things that is hard to understand if you are not an army spouse but letting them go back the second time (after r and r) is WAYYYYY harder then sending them off the first time at the beginning of deployment. I think it has something to do with the fact that you already know how much life stinks while they're deployed and you don't want to return to that stinky life after 2 weeks of bliss during R and R. We had our R and R in June last year so yes, a year ago from today, I was definitely depressed and missing Chris.
Last summer I was also stressed to the max with my graduate work. I had a professor (the same one for BOTH classes) who took over my life with assignments and papers. It was ridiculous! Not only was I stressed about my masters classes, but I was stressed about the beginning of the school year that was creeping closer and closer. I was feeling like a 1st year teacher all over again because I was about to begin teaching science in a different state to a different grade than I was used to with an entirely different curriculum at a new school! Yikes!
After reminiscing about all of that, I realized that my life is pretty darn awesome this summer (despite the fact that I was unable to go to the pool this week haha). Chris is home! Not only is he home, but we just returned from a fabulous week in Savannah and Charleston where we celebrated our anniversary and ate and drank to our hearts content! I'm NOT stressed at all. I'm done with my masters (in fact, I just sent in my paperwork to receive my pay raise woo hoo!!!) I'm not worried about the upcoming school year because I'm teaching the same thing I taught last year. Of course there will be some tweaking of lesson plans involved,. but overall, I'm ready for this school year. On top of all of that, with my extra time, I've been going to the gym (sometimes twice a day) and I LOVE that my body is in much better shape than last summer!
It's amazing how much stress your body can take when it needs to. However, I'm very glad that all of the stress from last summer is behind me and I'm able to have a relaxing and enjoyable summer! What a difference a year truly makes... I'd have to say that 27 is treating me much better than 26 :-)
I say all of this, not only to help me put my own life in perspective but to challenge all of you to do the same. Whether you're in an UP or DOWN in life right now... If you're in an upswing, great! So am I! Enjoy it and be thankful for it. If you're in a downswing in life right now, it's ok...I was there a year ago. Think to the future and how this too shall pass.
Happy Friday Yall!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Yes, that's right, I'm 27 and I DON'T have children!
I realize it has been nearly a year since I updated my blog. Mainly that is because I've been super busy with life (teaching, welcoming my husband home from Afghanistan, being an FRG leader and finishing my master's degree). Now that it is summer, I have more time to do things like blog, sleep, shop, lay out at the pool etc... so thus the return of my blog! The other reason I decided to blog again is because of an issue I need to get off my chest.......the fact that I don't have kids! (and I'm happy about it!)
I currently live in Clarksville, TN. This is a small southern town mixed with a military town. Those of you who have never lived in a military town may not know this but...military folks have lots of kids! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot...I LOVE all of my friends with kids and I think their kids are GREAT! I just personally don't want any of my own just yet...
Living in a military town, where most women have several kids, makes people assume that I, a 27 year old officer's wife would have some children. Upon meeting someone, inevitably one of the first questions out of their mouths is "so, how many kids do you have?" I always respond "none" to which they always ask "well are you trying? When are you going to have kids?" I understand that people are just trying to make conversation but I've hit my braking point with these kinds of questions! By the way, just so none of you have to ask me, the answer to that question is, always has been, and always will be...When Chris and I are 30 we will start thinking about starting a family... and we want 2 kids so that gives us plenty of time.
Yesterday, I was at the pool and I met a new neighbor (who was with her 7 year old daughter). She, of course, asked if I had any kids and I said no. Her next statemnt to me was "well, you're still young you have time...how old are you?" I nodded and said "yes, I am still young, I'm 27." Sh looked at me like I had said I was 65 and responded "Oh!" This was not an "Oh" as in Oh OK....No, this was an "Oh!" as in wow you're really old I can't believe you don't have kids yet, you better get started right now! It REALLY irked me!
Yes, I'm 27 and I don't have kids and guess what??? I don't want any right now! In fact, hardly ANY of my other 27 year old friends outside of the military have kids and we're all ok with it! (the close friends of mine that DO have kids have been married for 5 years so for them, it was a good time :) I almost just wanted to yell at that lady and say "look here...yes I'm 27...that means I still have 8 or so good years to have children. Not to mention the fact that I've only been married for 2 years, 1 of which my husband was deployed to Afghanistan! So really, if you think about it, we are STILL NEWLYWEDS! We have truly only been "together" for 1 year of our marriage! So I think it is perfectly acceptable for us to not have kids and not want any yet! We still want time to just enjoy being together, just the 2 of us!"
As previously stated, I have nothing against those who have kids. I think all of my friends' kids are very cute! I think there is a right time for everyone to start a family and that time is different for everyone. I respect the fact that others chose to have kids earlier in life so can everyone please respect the fact that I'd like to wait??? (by the way, it's not my friends with kids who have influenced this rant but rather those who I don't know well who have children and I can't believe that I don't!)
If you're still reading this rant I do appreciate it! Now, that I've gotten all of this off of my chest, I'm going to focus on our upcoming vacation to Charleston and Savannah! I can't wait to be in the low country eating She Crab Soup and Shrimp and Grits, enjoying the beach, seeing some friends and my sister and of course celebrating the 4th of July! And to think...I get to enjoy all of this trip without having to worry about planning family friendly events, changing diapers, waking up early and/or getting babysitters :)
I currently live in Clarksville, TN. This is a small southern town mixed with a military town. Those of you who have never lived in a military town may not know this but...military folks have lots of kids! I don't want to get off on the wrong foot...I LOVE all of my friends with kids and I think their kids are GREAT! I just personally don't want any of my own just yet...
Living in a military town, where most women have several kids, makes people assume that I, a 27 year old officer's wife would have some children. Upon meeting someone, inevitably one of the first questions out of their mouths is "so, how many kids do you have?" I always respond "none" to which they always ask "well are you trying? When are you going to have kids?" I understand that people are just trying to make conversation but I've hit my braking point with these kinds of questions! By the way, just so none of you have to ask me, the answer to that question is, always has been, and always will be...When Chris and I are 30 we will start thinking about starting a family... and we want 2 kids so that gives us plenty of time.
Yesterday, I was at the pool and I met a new neighbor (who was with her 7 year old daughter). She, of course, asked if I had any kids and I said no. Her next statemnt to me was "well, you're still young you have time...how old are you?" I nodded and said "yes, I am still young, I'm 27." Sh looked at me like I had said I was 65 and responded "Oh!" This was not an "Oh" as in Oh OK....No, this was an "Oh!" as in wow you're really old I can't believe you don't have kids yet, you better get started right now! It REALLY irked me!
Yes, I'm 27 and I don't have kids and guess what??? I don't want any right now! In fact, hardly ANY of my other 27 year old friends outside of the military have kids and we're all ok with it! (the close friends of mine that DO have kids have been married for 5 years so for them, it was a good time :) I almost just wanted to yell at that lady and say "look here...yes I'm 27...that means I still have 8 or so good years to have children. Not to mention the fact that I've only been married for 2 years, 1 of which my husband was deployed to Afghanistan! So really, if you think about it, we are STILL NEWLYWEDS! We have truly only been "together" for 1 year of our marriage! So I think it is perfectly acceptable for us to not have kids and not want any yet! We still want time to just enjoy being together, just the 2 of us!"
As previously stated, I have nothing against those who have kids. I think all of my friends' kids are very cute! I think there is a right time for everyone to start a family and that time is different for everyone. I respect the fact that others chose to have kids earlier in life so can everyone please respect the fact that I'd like to wait??? (by the way, it's not my friends with kids who have influenced this rant but rather those who I don't know well who have children and I can't believe that I don't!)
If you're still reading this rant I do appreciate it! Now, that I've gotten all of this off of my chest, I'm going to focus on our upcoming vacation to Charleston and Savannah! I can't wait to be in the low country eating She Crab Soup and Shrimp and Grits, enjoying the beach, seeing some friends and my sister and of course celebrating the 4th of July! And to think...I get to enjoy all of this trip without having to worry about planning family friendly events, changing diapers, waking up early and/or getting babysitters :)
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