From Paradise to Frozen Tundra

Like that picture? Yeah?
That's the view from the hotel patio. Paradise.

Well, we're back from Florida. It was sunny, beautiful, glorious, and I almost cried when we left.

So now I'm back in the real world, where bills, the scale, and snow reside. It was 70°+ the entire trip; now it's roughly 20°, windy, and snowing in Washington DC. Woe is me; not only does the weather suck, but so does driving through the weather with these people. It never ceases to amaze me how every driver from Maryland, Virginia, and DC seems to be a complete and utter moron intent on killing everyone else on the road. And giving me the finger when I pass them.

Anyway. I threw caution to the wind, and, over the past two weeks, gained 5 lbs. I'm not surprised- I spent the whole time with a drink in my hand, eating great food, and bumming around the beach/hotel/bars. It was fabulous.

I'm not overly concerned. This just means that I'll have to work that much harder this month. I'm not really feeling it at the moment, but I'm sure my motivation will return to me sometime this month. Or so I hope; if not, I'm going to hate March.

No News is Good News ... Right?

I really wish I had a funny, slightly self-depreciating story told with great wit which I could share with you.

I do not.

I'm about to work 43 hours over the course of the next three days. Yes, I'm cringing, too.

In the midst of this insanity, I need to find time to clean my car, take it in for a 50k mile check up and oil change, get my dogs groomed and medicated, clean the house one last time, pay some bills, workout like a madwoman, and pack for Florida.

What am I doing instead? Sitting here, talking to you. My nonexistant reader.

A Personal Trainer & Canine Woes

So, what's a girl to do when her boyfriend of two years is on the night shift at the hospital?

Why, blog, of course, silly!

I had a session with a personal trainer at Bally's on Monday. It was pretty much awesome. In fact, it was so awesome, that at one point I thought I was gonig to pass out. As a result, I have been worked out and stretched out like never before. I may have to cough up the money to make this a regular deal.

Oh. Save the best for last! Today I discovered that, despite the medications they're on, both my dogs have worms. Whipworms, to be exact. Not only does this disgust me, but it means that I had to cancel my reservations at the kennel for next week, and find a new kennel that would take them despite this. Disgusting. You little nasties, you, there's a trip to the veterinarian in your imminent future.

Four days until Florida, baby!

Otherwise Known As..

Who am I? Why, let me over-inform you!

My name is Nicole. Yes. I know this is a stretch, but it is true, I assure you.

I am dating a man who just may be the greatest specimen of the male animal, and own two Boston Terriers who are complete polar opposites. The four of us share a domicile in the suburbs of Washington DC, where we habitually sneer at the driving habits of the locals. When we're not yelling and shaking our fists at them from the interior bubble of our car, that is.

I am a soldier. I think I enjoy it; some days, more than others. I currently work quadruple overtime at that massive public relations monster known as Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My relationship with that behemoth is tumultuous; more often than not, I pretty much hate it. I have stories. I’ll share. Just ask.

When I'm not being forced to pretend I enjoy picking up after other people's loose ends, I go to school part-time. It's slow going. Part of that's the Army, part of it is just plain laziness. I aspire to one day pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I do a lot of volunteer work- with animals, not humans. That pretty much sums up how I roll right there.

When I'm not slacking in uniform and not pretending to study, I workout and try to lead a healthy lifestyle. That doesn't happen as casually as that statement did. Athletics and healthy living have never particularly been my bag of tricks; in fact, I am a huge sympathsizer with the views of the great Crabby McSlacker. This, however, does not keep me from harboring and obtaining vast amounts of knowledge on subjects such as health, fitness, exercise, etc. It just means that I'm reluctant to act upon all that knowledge, so it builds up in my cranium until my head is too big to even consider any activity except sitting on the couch and snacking on a bag of potato chips rice cakes.

Okay. I jest. But really, between the Army, college courses, the medical training I've received, and my own obsession for seeking out all things healthy, there's really no reason for me to be in the shape [round] that I'm in.

I also (sometimes) harbor a deep, dark secret desire to become certified as a personal trainer to pay my way through college as the going rate for a degree in "general curriculum" is about .. oh, say, null. But to achieve this, I would have to a) get up off my butt, b) work my butt off, literally, and c) put forth some effort into bettering myself.

Yeah ... it's gonna be awhile, folks.

So I'm starting this blog mostly in attempt to change myself, and partially just so I can say that I, like the rest of America, have a blog and feel like my opinions matter!