With regards to getting motivated to exercise, I find that it helps hugely if I have an event I'm training for. Like how I need to get back to running now because I'm part of a relay team in the Bmore Marathon in October.

exercise motivation. When in Dallas, co-worker/neighbor was a workout buddy. Neither of us were particularly motivated to go to the free gym in our apartment complex, but both needed it. So we set day/times to go, and went. There were plenty of times we shared "eh, if you hadn't called, I wouldn't have gone" which the other usually pipped up "damn it, I didn't want to go either, but felt bad if I backed out". So mutual guilt is a wonderful thing. But I understand your BFF is gone. Maybe schedule for the morning, before your brain realizes it doesn't want to do it. After a couple visits, it becomes habit. So say, every Tuesday & Thursday morning, or something like that.

I guess one of the complications with public forums is that your comment, though directed at Hil

As noted it was actually in response to omnis.

I don't think he took offense either, but if he did I'll apologize.

Deleted because I have a meeting to run to and this has run its course.

When in Dallas, co-worker/neighbor was a workout buddy.

When I lived in PR, I had two awesome workout friends. One preferred to walk, which was great because at the time, I was pregnant and not up for running much. The other was a fitness nut and was always up for running no matter what. I miss having someone like that around. As an aside, Joe and I running together never works well.

Hil, I guess I'm supposed to say I'm sorry, but I really do still crossing my fingers for you. Allah-hu-Acbar and all, you know.

ION - idiots keep following me, this time in email. Seems like they want to hand in an official complaint against this year's lecturers of Qualitative Research Methods. Why? Because when the lectures are being asked the third time in 15 minutes the same question, they're answering with "please try to follow", and not because the theory is too hard or because the answer doesn't answer the question. It's because they're focusing on writing things to their laptops mechanically, and once in a while stop to read a sentence and a half and go "eh. Whah?!".

I wonder if there's a way I can show support in the class' staff besides explaining the obvious to the classmates (though I don't have any problem to walk them through the methods of the class - which I sometimes do), without being tagged as class' bitch or teacher's pet.

While I have my critique on one of them (I actually find it too slow and unchallenging, hence easy-to--not-follow), there's one who's absolutely a genius and a treat to have as a teacher - and he's being way too misunderstood by the "can't you also chew up the material and digest it for us, please?" pack of students I learn with.

I'm sorry for ranting about it so much. This is just my life now, and when idiots are trying to ruin one of the fewest rays of lights in the social sciences as being taught in my uni, I get all Hulk-smashy.

IOON, bedtime. I promised myself.

You see? You guys are magic.

Thanks for the good thoughts and suggestions.

PLUS, as I was writing a response outlining how I'm going to put the suggestions to use, the phone rang and it was the director of training for the gym.

Turns out, he's a professor and a marketing guy who totally understands what I want to do and is completely on board. He understands the limitations of his staff and has strategies for working around that, and has great energy for using what I'm doing to help his people better understand how to market their services.

Phew. Someone who gets it goes a looooong say to keeping my fire burning.

Now. This does not get my but on the spinning bike, but it DOES create a center of competition and pride that will help me to overcome my current state of self pity.

This was definitely a case of 'ask and ye shall receive.'

So thanks!

Go to bed, Shir.

I am in the midst of another grand plan for reorganizing the office. I believe there is a magical configuration that will make me organized and not threaten to fatally entangle me in cords. I'm also on the look out for a leprechaun with a pot of gold.

This plan requires drilling a hole my desk for wires. There is already a hole I drilled as part of an earlier effort at organization. Somewhere in this house is the hole saw I used. Where? I have no idea. The odds are I'll find it after I go to Home Depot and get another one.

Recommendation request:

So, I'm going to the gym. Yay! Unfortunately, my trusty back pack is, after 10+ years, giving up the ghost. I got it as a free-be from the Sierra Club, and I believe I got its predecessor the same way. Before that my backpacks were gifts from family members, for school.

At 42 years old I've never had to buy a backpack. Where's a good place to get one, please? It needs to be a) under $50, b) long-lasting, and c) not butt-ugly. I poked around Zappos for a while. Apparently you can spend over $200 on something that will hold sweaty socks until you remember to empty it and put them in the wash. Good to know. Suggestions on brands that won't fall apart as soon as you drop them in a puddle on the dressing room floor would also be appreciated.