I'm a ninny but I don't care!

Before I get into the story as to why I am a ninny I will start with a few observations. So I went to Moscow this weekend to visit. It was a great time and I was happy to see everyone. But here is my observation or epiphany. I was sitting in church in Moscow and I had the thought that I needed to leave Moscow behind. Kind of a sad thought but its true. I need to move on with my life. That doesn't mean I'm cutting the Moscow people out my life. Now way! I need them all too much. But I do need to stop wishing I was in Moscow and wanting to go back. So I'm moving on. Looking back fondly but not dwelling on it. Moscow will always be in my heart but I also need to move on. So that means deciding where to go and make my next step.
Now onto observation #2: I decided to take a different way home from Moscow to see a friend. It was good and nice to see him. Well because of this (by the way it is NOT on the way home from Moscow) I had to drive through Oregon. So I had to get gas and I was talking to my sister about to get out of my car and this guy pops up to my window and says "give me your card!" Scared the snot out of me! Then I remembered in Oregon you aren't allowed to pump your own gas. Now while some people poo poo this I like it. Because it was snowing when I stopped so I could stay in my car nice and warm. :)

I got home at 5:30AM slept a few hours and went to work. Needless to say I did not go to workout. So today I had to go. I finally got my goggles and new swimming suit. Let me tell you having goggles makes a HUGE difference! I had such a good swim. Thanks to Lars I had a diagram on how to do the dolphin flip thingy...I forgot its name. But its where when you get to the end of the lane you do a flip to turn around. So my little flippies look horrid but hey it works. The reason why the swim was awesome was because I felt like I got a good workout. Before I would stop at the end of the lane and turn around. So that little break made not as challenging, but now I keep going. I really like it. Goooo swimming! Lars says I am a ninny because I use a nose plug. She says I should blow bubbles. I can't do it. I always get water up my nose. So I'll stick with the nose plugs.

Oh and for all of you that read my blog and I read yours I need your addresses. When I switched I lost them all. So if you all could either leave your address in the comments or email me that would be great! Thanks yo!

Finally! *Sniff* it smells like chlorine and comfort zone? What comfort zone?

I decided I just needed a boost to lose weight. So I just needed 5 lbs and I would be motivated. I finally did. I also have motivation because I know what Janelle's weight is now and so I am determined to hit her weight and then pass her. I have never weighed less than her ever but I am going to now man! Ha! Go me! Bring it Janelle! Bring it.

Part of my working out is now doing swimming because my knee is screwed up...which is also motivation because I can't run again until I lose 20 pounds. So I needed a new swimming suit because my current one looks like this (in case you were wondering I totally look like this girl too. HA! I crack myself up):



Which is great for laying on the beach but not for swimming laps. So I bought a new one. It looks like this:



Hot no? I went swimming today and whoa..kicked my butt! I swam 20 laps (that was a there and back=one lap type thing) So I did two sets of breaststroke and two sets of backstroke. I have to say my form is horrible. I really need to take lessons. I'm pathetic. But hey at least I'm out there yeah?

So I've always been a little wary about changing in the locker room. I usually go into the bathroom stall, usually that's because I have to go to the bathroom at the same time. But whatever, well today I didn't care. I took a shower at the gym in the buff my friends! See here is my thinking, if anyone sees me its their own fault. Which is also my philosophy for if someone walks in on me in the bathroom. It's their eyes. I have to say I'm pretty dang proud of myself for not caring anymore. I even dressed in the middle of the locker room. Ok some of you might be saying, "wow crazy too much information." Well you know what? I don't care. I am no longer a prude!

Woot woot!

So I've been a little while since I've been running due to the knee. Well today I went for a bike ride and then ran/walked 1.25 miles. I'm not quite up to par on the running yet. The knee just seemed unstable. It didn't hurt to bad but was a wee bit wobbly. So we decided to take it a little easier. Plus since I' haven't been running for a bit I am not up to par. But it was great to be back out and running.

On another note I started my job, as mentioned last time. I love it, really I do. I went to US Citizenship and Immigration Services by myself today! I was worried but actually it turned out well. I was glad to finally get my first time at USCIS. It was good. I love being able to help people get citizenship. This is a great country and I am glad that I can help people get the blessings of it.

Well that's my soap box. Peace out everyone!

"Do you speak spanish?"

I started my job everyone! Wahoo! And things changed with it a little bit. I now get benefits and can work more than 19 hours. Which when I was offered the job was told I could not work more than 19 hours and no benefits. So that was a nice change. I also get paid for my millage I spend. So for those of you that don't know my job is the legal coordinator for a grant. I work for an agency that received a grant to help elderly refugee permanent residents get citizenship. Congress a couple years ago wanted to give an incentive for people to get their citizenship. So they passed a law that said that people over 60 had to get their citizenship within 7 years of receiving their permanent residency or they would lose their social security income. So we don't want that to happen. I have a co-worker who does the outreach and I do the legal work and teaching the civics portion of the exam. So far I enjoy it! :)
Ok on to the title of this post. I went with my co-worker Mohamud to a Sudanese community meeting. While Mohamud and I were waiting this lady was giving this presentation on abuse. She was saying it in Spanish and this other guy was translating. He was struggling a bit. I was following along with the lady and then in the middle she asks if I speak Spanish and wants me to go up and translate for her. So yeah I got to give a presentation on abuse. :) I also learned a lot from this Sudanese meeting. It was fun. Mohamud and I then went and crashed a Ghana Independence Day celebration. That was a good time. Well that's it kids. I'm out! Peace!