March Update
I know it's over a month late. But at least I'm getting it in!
Mistaken Identity
Back in November I received a phone call at work asking about fraudulent account activity, despite not having an account with that bank. It ended up being a ridiculously dumb mistake on the account of someone reading a name incorrectly, then a call being erroneously forwarded to me. Essentially, my name is super common, especially when you mumble ‘Christina.’
At the beginning of March, I got an e-mail about two students dropping my English class. Obviously, I’m not teaching English at my hometown community college. I had taken online classes and was an employee for a summer camp, so they had an ID number for me. I assumed someone had hacked the system. I sent an e-mail to their fraud officer letting them know that I got this crazy e-mail with actual student ID numbers.
This time, it turns out that my maiden name is too common. Someone mistakenly chose Kristen Svatek instead of Kimberly Svatek, my 2nd cousin teaching HS English and duel credit at the community college. Seriously? Seriously.
Pi Day
Pi Day was on a Saturday this year. We celebrated at home by ourselves instead of having a big Pi(e) Feast at work. I chose a meal pie from our new cookbook (1,000 lowfat recipes) and a dessert pie from weightwatchers.com. Frontier Pie is now my favorite meal. Steak meat, corn, beans, tomatoes, covered in cornbread. It is seriously tastey. The apple pie was ok. I wore my Pi shirt and my Pi earrings [pictures]
Pot-lucks
The last full week of March, I had two potlucks. One was with our work group, and the theme was Velveeta. I took frontier pie (did I mention it’s my favorite?). The potluck ended up being really tastey. And none of the desserts had Velveeta. YAY!
The second was for a baby shower. I made a vegetable enchilada casserole dish. I liked it, but there was a lot left over. We just ate it for dinner. Yum!
Interview
In the middle of the month, I learned that one of my corporate contacts was transferring jobs. When his boss asked him to recommend a replacement, he gave him my name! How flattering! It was a business analyst/budget coordinator type job - similar to some of the things I do now, just for ALL the sights, not one. I looked at the job on application web page, and I fit all the requirements, but the posting closed in 3 days. Justin and I had some serious talks about my career, his career, commuting, where to live… You see, sometimes, the company will transfer both persons if part of a couple gets a job. Was he willing to leave his current job? If not, were we willing to have opposite commutes?
Ultimately, we decided I should apply for the job, and we’d discuss our plans again when we knew the results.
The next week, on my Friday off, I went up to HQ for the interview. It was about an hour long with the hiring manager, and two persons from the finance department. I think it went really well. I was confident and honest, answered all the questions and felt that the interviewers were satisfied with my answers. They wanted to make a decision within the week, so that the chosen candidate could start transitioning and be in place May 1st for budget season. Did I get the job? You’ll have to wait for the April update! (but don’t worry, with how late this is coming out, and how soon I’m going to start working on the April update, you shouldn’t have to wait long.)
Hockey Game
The evening of the interview, we went to our first hockey game. We met my friend Lauren, from Studio, and her husband for the minor league Houston Aeros vs. Rockford Icehogs (?) It was Lyme Diseas Awareness game… but they didn’t check us for fleas on the way in. Mostly there were lime green posters and shirts, some informational brochures, and 25 seconds of an award winning documentary that didn’t actually inform us. They should have given us a full minute.. or picked a different clip. Before I get to the actual hockey part: I got cotton candy and a soft pretzel. YAY!
Now for the hockey part. I really enjoyed it. I proclaim hockey as my favorite professional sports game to spectate. The action was fast and a lot of skill was involved. I can visualize myself playing soccer, football, baseball to some degree, but I cannot imagine myself playing hockey. They can skate forwards and backwards, AND hit pucks AND change directions and do it all FAAAST. All I had known about hockey I had learned from the Mighty Ducks movies, and my mind was blown. They were launching the puck into the air. They were bouncing the puck off the Plexiglas. I would not have the courage to sit closer to the rink. There was body slamming and a fight. Throughout the evening, one guy lost his gloves, one guy lost his helmet and one guy broke his stick. And the refs? Fast! Good skaters! Compared to football refs? Hands down amazing.
(you can see the stick just to the right of the goal.)
During the first break, we watched a peewee hockey game which was adorable. Those kids were still better than what I could do, but they were falling down and missing the puck and skating slow. During the second break, they played “Chuck the Puck.” You can buy a rubber puck for $1 (which probably went to support Lyme Disease awareness) and then everyone tries to throw it into a helmet sitting in the middle of the ice. If it lands and doesn’t bounce out, you get $500! We didn’t participate, but it was fun to watch. And someone won! A rarity, apparently.
Additionally, we saw ‘Aggies on the Move,’ which is the name of the Aggie Dance Team (?). It was disappointing. Maybe they had to come up with a dance last minute, or they were missing half their team. But it was awkward and embarrassing.
At the end of regular time, the game was tied. They went into 5 minutes of overtime. At the end of overtime, both teams had scored, but they were tied again! So they went to 5 rounds of shootout. At the end of that, both teams had scored, but they were STILL TIED!! So then the shootout continued for some more rounds and eventually Houston lost. But it was FUN and apparently that much overtime doesn’t happen much.
Other randomness. Like every sports team, there were scantily clad dancers. For hockey, and particularly for this night, go-go boots, short-shorts and ripped up lime green t-shirts. While I would have LOVED to see them dance on the ice in those boots, they stayed up on the walkways and sometimes by the Zamboni entrance. Near the end of the game, a group of boys (who must have been there for a birthday celebration) started mimicking the dancers. They were into it! Hip shakes, arm waves, sassy head flips. IT WAS HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
House Hunt
By March 13th, we had a letter or pre-approval for a home loan. The first step of many to getting a home. Within the week, I had learned about this new job possibility, which could lead to a different home location possibility, so house shopping was put ON HOLD. At least until I learned the results of the job interview.
Fitness Class
Still going to class. Still getting more fit and stronger. We seem to focus a lot on arms and shoulders, which is nice, and I’m seeing some definition in my abs-area as well, but my hips and thighs are still a big target for me.
Weight Watchers
Still attending to meetings. I can’t say that I learn much from going to them. Learn the point system: check. Understand that overeating is sometimes an emotional response: check. Exercise helps you lose weight: check. Similar themes are repeated every week. I do get to ‘weigh in’ and sometimes learn about tastey, low-point foods sometimes. I’m not hungry ALL OF THE TIME so much, and we’ve learned how to manage my point intake better. See cookbook from the Pi Day category. That book has been amazing. We eat zucchini as part of a dish at least 2 times a week, and tomatoes at least 4. I reached my 5lb total weight loss goal in March. According to the Weight Watcher’s scale, I lost 3.8 pounds.
Overall Progress
As mentioned in Feb, I hit my 10 pound goal, but those adorable green shoes were nowhere to be found. So instead I got a mani/pedicure. For march alone, according to the bathroom scale, I lost 3.6 pounds and 2.75 inches from various measured circumferences. Not bad, but I’d like better.
Crazy Brain Update
No progress on diagnoses or cure. I think March was a pretty good month overall in regards to frequency and intensity. I wish I had better a better update to report.
I promise to be more timely with my April update. : )