Goal globalization

One of the key things in goal setting is to tell people what you are planning on doing. I've decided to run a half marathon. I have often thought about it before but never truly set up plans to make it happen.

Some classmates made it known they were planning on running a half in December. I thought, if they could, so then could I. Subsequently, I told my roommate my plans. Then I told the classmates my plan. And then I texted my sister because let's face it my sisters are my biggest influence. And she said she would train with me, 1400 miles away.

Really that just got me more excited and more determined. So then I talked to my Texas family about it. And then they told another individual my age who is now planning on running it with me when he moves here in August. Then I posted a link on Facebook to both my sisters pages to tell them to pick a half in Cali in nov/dec.

Now I'm telling all of you my plans to run in Shiner, Texas on December 16, 2012. Basically, my goal has been glabalized and I cannot back down.

Now that I have all the time in the world, it is so easy to work out and consume more protein and less processed food. But I worry that as soon as football two a days start, training will slow down or cease and fast food will become easier to pick up on the way home.

After two weeks of committed training I already feel better and I'm still excited to run and workout but I worry I will soon dread long run days.

But worrying will get you nowhere: do not worry about tomorrow for we know not what tomorrow brings.

Making Plans

It has come to that point of my life when I need to figure out the next step. I like this process because it means I get to plan. I can start making pros and cons lists, update my resume, research different schools and job opportunities, think about where I want to live.

It's ironic because even though I want to move back home to California, I also keep looking for jobs in Texas. There is a slightly higher chance of getting a job that will pay more. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in my profession for the money. It's just the sooner I pay off my school loans, the sooner I can just start traveling. Who needs to be tied down?

But making these plans is also so nerve-racking. What if I'm not good enough to actually have a big girl job? What if I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life at a place I only slightly like? What if I pick the wrong place? What if I never pay off my school loans?

Every time I think about money I get an awful sensation in the pit of my stomach. I really just want to marry rich so I don't even have to think about it. But that would be a cop out. And us Read's are made of stronger stuff then that.

Yellow Cards

The UEFA Euro Cup has been on ESPN for the last month. Since I am living in a house with DirectTV, I have had the wonderful privilege of watching most of every game. I have seen some great footwork. I have also seen some great fouls.

Here is a picture of Gerard Pique of Spain (Yeah champions!) getting a yellow card. Can I just say that over my 15 or so years of playing, I have only received one yellow card. It's not that I wasn't aggressive. I was. I just never was flagrant. Except once.

Picture this, we're playing our biggest rivals (King High School) and I think the score is tied (Isn't funny, how this is NOT what I remember). My arm has been hurting because someone stepped on it. I really want to win, so my emotions are so high. We have a corner kick and I am standing in the penalty box being defended by a small little thing. Well, homegirl, decides to keep booty bumping me and I cannot move an inch without being accosted by this defender. So I just straight up take my arms and shove her away from me. Unfortunately, the referee saw this and I get a yellow card. And because when you get a yellow card in a high school game, you have to be subbed out, I just started running to the sideline. I remember my coach just looked at me and shook his head and smiled.

You see, yellow cards aren't really a terrible thing (unless you get too many - don't be stupid). It means that you are showing passion. I feel like I am such a fence sitter at life: Republican or Democrat? Who cares, why can't we just get along? Beach or Mountains? Well, they both are great, do I have to choose? What's your favorite food? Well, it depends on what day it is.

I wish I got more yellow cards playing soccer. But I always (well not always) played it safe. I was smart. I fouled just enough to get the ball. I think I also play it safe at life. I don't take risks. Even moving to Texas wasn't a terrible risk. I had a good set up to jump into. Don't get me wrong, its been hard because I miss my family terribly. But really, its not like I hitch hiked to South America with only a bag on my back (Yeah, I don't recommend taking that kind of risk).

I think we're supposed to take risks at life because otherwise, we don't know what we're capable of. So here's to taking more risks.

I think I would blog more if it didn't take thirty mins to turn my computer on

I seriously love blogging. I love writing my personal social commentary to share with the whole world. However, my computer is kind of five years old. And thankfully, it still works, but not well. So navigating to Blogger and uploading pictures takes an awful long time. Time that I could spend reading or playing or crafting. It also does not help I have about 18,000 pictures on here. Thank goodness my sister bought me an external hard drive last year other wise, I'm pretty sure I would worry about losing half of my memories.

If I did, I am blessed with the memory of my father, and would at least remember the weather of the event. (I miss you dad!)

Speaking of remembering things and telling stories. I am not a fan of overexaggeration. When a friend tells a story of what happened and I know the true story, and he says 20 instead of 2, I am irritated. Stick to the story. Stop blowing things way out of proportion. I'm ok if you say 6, but 20? Really?? Our lives do not need more drama. I hang out with high schoolers all day, save your dramatic stories for primetime television.

As I'm living here in Texas, I am definitely learning more about the things that irritate me and the things that make me happy. So as I continue in my last year here at Baylor University, I will be blogging more about events that either bring me great joy or great irritation.

The 'ship! We're going to the 'ship!

My softball girls won state. I am so proud of them.

We're going to state!

Here is how Texas high school classification works: Schools are classified into 5 rankings depending on how many students are enrolled in the school: 199 and under - 1A 200-429 - 2A 430-989 - 3A 990-2,064 - 4A 2,065 and above - 5A Crawford is considered a small 2A school with just 209 students enrolled. There are 229 such schools in the state of Texas. Furthermore, Texas is divided into 4 regions. For most sports, each region sends one team to state. My softball girls just won the regional final game. Therefore, we are in the top 4 teams of 229 schools. We're going to state. Boom. I'm so proud of the girls. Another wonderful thing about Texas classification and districts is that they are changed every two years. So next year, we will have a new district and different teams in our region. But we are still 2A. A very small 2A.

Goodbyes and Hellos

Good bye apt 1207.

Good bye pool that was never open when it was triple digit weather.

Hello Poole Family.

Hello trips to the zoo.

Hello front porch sitting.

Hello Cher the horse.

And hello country sunsets from the back porch.

So apparently it has been awhile since I blogged. I'll try to remedy that situation and post more about my current life. Now that wifi is readily available at the new place I'm staying, I have a feeling the blogging will be reignited.