SAQ, TFL, NASM, 401K, KMK...was this song in Hair?

Hello Bloggy blog readers! Just vegging out here on this lovely Saturday afternoon.  Done with my studying for the day and I thought I'd write an update.

I'm officially in training for my first 8k now ( I'm running in 2 of them 3 weeks apart, March 20th and April 10th).  Doing prescribed runs every day plus strength training and cross training.  I'm following a version of this schedule: http://www.halhigdon.com/8K/8kintsch.htm with a little extra milage in the first half, since I'm used to 20-25 miles a week. I need better ideas for the "cross training" days.  These days occur once a week (I did the first one yesterday) and I'm supposed to do 60 minutes of cross training.  It's supposed to be a relatively easy day in the training cycle, unlike what I actually did yesterday.  I jogged an easy, slow 2.5 miles in the morning, then some friends came over and we did the INSANITY pure cardio workout...NOT easy.  Insanity is one of the Beachbody DVD programs (like P90X) that is all cardio/reactive training/SAQ training based.  It was basically 40 minutes of plyometrics and SAQ training (that's Speed-Agility-Quickness) and while it was a really good workout, probably not so much for what is supposed to be a rest day.  I need something that's a little nicer to my joints after the almost 25 miles I ran this week.  Once it gets nicer out I'll definitely do some bike riding but I need to figure out some other cross activities in the mean time.

I'm trying to be nicer to my joints and muscles all around.  I can't risk an injury after all this time I'm putting in to training.  My joints are still ok but I've been having crazy tightness in my TFL and calf muscles, especially on my left side.  AHHHHH OMG the TFL!!  I'm in pain now just thinking about it.   I ordered a foam roller from Amazon that should be arriving in the next couple of days and I've decided to start getting massages at least once every other week.  There's a little place called Resonance Massage and Bodywork , a fantastic Chinese-style walk-in massage spa just a couple doors down. If you go before 2pm you get an extra 10 minutes, so for $30 you can get 30 minutes on the table.  I'm definitely willing to spend $30 every 2 weeks for a massage! (says the still unemployed girl)

Ohhhhh, employment.  I went to 5 open server calls this week plus e-mailed a lot of resumes via craigslist, haven't heard anything.  Every time I fill out an application I feel like I lose a teeny tiny bit of my soul.  I think this week I'm just going to follow my friend Chris's advice, I'll print a stack of resumes and hit up all the bars where I want to work right at opening time, hoping someone got fired or quit the night before.  It means facing a lot of rejection and needing a whole lot of luck, but I'm generally good at both those things.

Right when I got home from Michigan after Christmas I submitted for a bunch of server jobs and actually got called in for interviews on 2 of them! I realized that since I still had 4 weeks of my show left at that point it would be silly to go into an interview without any weekend availability so I was like "oh, I'll just hold off until after Kiss Me, Kate.  It should be just as easy then!" Yeah, uh huh.

I keep occasionally checking the fitness section of craigslist jobs in addition to the food/drink service section, just for giggles.  I can't wait to apply for these personal training jobs! Most of the smaller, independent gyms don't even require previous experience, just NASM certification and "a passion for fitness!" or "enthusiasm to get started in the fitness industry!" and they ALL come with health benefits, educational opportunities, 401k...401K!!!! Ohmigosh I will feel like a real adult.  At my current pace I only have 2 weeks left before I finish the text book/course book, plus I figure another 2 weeks of flashcards/studying/practice tests and then I'll be good to take the certification exam at the beginning of March!  Man oh man I just hope that there are still jobs then.  March/April is when everyone starts worrying about swimsuit season and joins a gym, right? right???

Ok, gotta clean the apartmetn and walk Sawyer before I leave for my show.  ONLY 2 SHOWS OF KMK LEFT!!! I have a feeling that this is what the last couple miles of the marathon is going to feel like.

I will be unemployed forever

OMG friends. So I went to an open call for servers today at Casey Moran's across the street from Wrigley Field.  They put a craigslist ad up that they're hiring for cubs season, so I thought I'd stop by with my resume, and swing by a couple other Wrigleyville bars while I was up there.

I had some errands to do around Clark and Belmont, and then I thought I would walk up to Casey Moran's.  The call started at 5pm and at 4:45 I started walking up from Belmont. Right then the sun set, suddenly, the temperature dropped like 10 degrees and it snowing that crappy horizontal snow.   Of course since I was job hunting and wearing a cute outfit I was wearing my cute italian-made banana republic not-meant-for-chicago-winter coat and not my bring-it-on-mother-nature heavy-duty puffy, shin-length Lands End coat.  Flimsy Anne Klien leather boots, not Uggs.  I finally walk past Wrigley and see the bar...with two giant OHIO STATE flags flying in front of it.

I believe I've previously claimed that I would never, ever, even in the off season, even if it was free and came with free caviar, sit down for a DRINK at an Ohio State bar.  I will honestly walk to the opposite side of the street even if I have to walk PAST an Ohio State bar.  I was thisclose to turning around but I couldn't feel my toes at this point so ok, I'll fill out an app, give them my resume that says "University of Michigan, Ann Arbor" on it in two different places and go.

It is 4:59.  The open call is from 5pm-7pm. There is a line of 5 people to get in the door and pick up applications.  Every single table and bar stool is occupied with people filling out applications and the line to turn in the applications, meet the manager and get your picture taken literally wraps around the entire restaurant.  There were easily over 150 people there.  At 4:59.  Cool.  Blah.

At least after the HOUR spent there I sucked it up and went to the other bar hiring down the street.  Of course I'm sure EVERYONE ELSE did too.

I'm sure this is in no way a unique story.  I've heard that there's some kind of economic crisis going on or something.

Blah. Blah. Blah.  Ok I'm almost halfway done with this glass of wine and the letters on the screen are starting to spin a little (yeah, I don't really drink much any more).  Time to make some dinner, put on my snuggie and watch idol.