Don't Eat the Yellow Snow...

Well, I survived the "blizzard" along with the other 73 people crammed in this Starbucks.
Its nuts in here right now. 
I literally had to make a table out of the window seal while attempting to sit upright and straddle the wall to type efficiently.  No, its not pretty, but I left my decency between 1st and 2nd Avenue when I nearly bit the dust crossing the street.  Never mind the cars, give me a patch of ice and I will quite easily injure myself.

Its been quite the week with smoke detector issues, a neck injury, and inspiring moments with clients.  I'll start with a device that I honestly want to rip from the ceiling in a fit of rage.  I understand that it is meant as a warning, as a helpful item, but in a 450sq ft apartment, it warns of nothing that would not have already exploded.
I've managed to set it off 3 times in the last week while cooking chicken.  Amazingly, at 7am with the alarm blaring, no one showed up to see if everything was ok.  I don't blame them.
I am fully aware that my neighbors hate me at this point, and by the 3rd incident were probably hoping I was playing with matches on purpose.
I wasn't.  Again, chicken.  I blame the chicken.
But in my defense, you get through 2 chicken breasts and the place looks like a smokehouse.  Who cooks just 2 breasts??  I need to get through about 3-4 pounds at a time, and a smoke detector that goes off at the sound of a fart is not helping...


Onto my neck...
Holy geez, talk about a wake up call.  Last week I was on the last rep of my last set of barbell shoulder press, and in a meathead moment of pure GH release, I pressed the weight up and my neck basically screamed at me.
I felt it happen, and the rest of my workout knew this was not going to be something I just slept off.  On a scale from 1-10, the pain was about an 8.5.  And ironically, the position that irritated it the most was standing/walking while trying to just keep my head up. 
Slightly problematic considering my profession.
The rest of the afternoon proved to be difficult while demonstrating exercises for clients, and then the trek home nearly put me in tears.  Ridiculous, I know.
But seriously, the only way I could remotely walk without excruciating pain was to tilt my head to the left and look down. 
I looked like Quasimodo shuffling to the 6 train. 
All I could do when I got home was lay down and apply as much pressure as I could stand to that spot.  Thankfully, it eased up in a few days and I've never been so grateful to nod my head...I nearly ceased verbal responses all together out of pure joy that my neck didn't feel like death anymore.
Slight exaggeration, but you get my point.

Overall though, my workouts are going very well.  Intense and exhausting, but very good.  I definitely have to warm-up and roll more than I used to.  At 31, things do not exactly feel like they did at 21 ;)
A few of the younger male trainers like to remind me of my age on a regular basis.
Its all fun and games until you actually do the math.  It was me against two young 20-somethings that ended with the eldest commenting to the younger:...
"Dude, she was in college when you first discovered your genitals."
There was pretty much nothing to say after that.
It was true.  Boys...

What a solid week with clients.
I had a few ladies make major breakthroughs amidst the sweat and dumbbells.  Perhaps the biggest obstacle for my "newbie" females is understanding the importance and role of struggle in the gym.  Understanding that yes, it is necessary to spark change, and no it is not a reflection of weakness.  Rather, it is an opportunity to foster strength in a moment of determination and belief in oneself.  It sounds quite simple and yet how often when left on our own do we hover in the comforts of the familiar,...the just difficult enough,...or the guaranteed success?!  We do it ALL THE TIME.  We are creatures of habit and often resist change when struggle is involved. 
So to see these ladies actively choosing to trust me in that moment, keep pushing, and ultimately do something they were not sure they could do,....that is food for my soul.
I love it.
They are slowly becoming forces to be reckoned with.  Its amazing.

Well, Starbucks is still packed and my rearend is officially stuck to this seat.  I need to get home and start food prepping for tomorrow.....if you see me on the news you'll know the smoke detector finally got the best of me.  Have a wonderful night folks.
And in honor of my courageous ladies,...you know that very thing you are afraid to do?,....do it.  Tomorrow.  Conquer it.  Go amaze yourself....

From the Big Apple...

Where in the world do I begin?!
To say the last few weeks has been a ride on the crazy train would be an understatement.
I needed a helmet.
Yes, I successfully moved to Manhattan.  However, the journey to get to this point was nothing short of madness.
I ended my nearly 10 year stent at ActivEdge on a Monday, and had a one-way ticket for NY that same Thursday.  The plan was to come up, stay in a hotel for 2 nights while I finalized everything for my apartment, and then move in by the weekend before I had to report to work on Monday.
Wellllll, things didn't exactly go as planned and by Saturday night I was testing the limits of my anti-anxiety meds.  Modern medicine is a beautiful thing.

Long story short, apartment was not ready by Saturday, and at that point I was literally having to take it day by day,...not a good sign when the hotel workers know you by name and ask you every morning if you'll be back.  Everyday it was "I have no clue...but if so, please make the bed."  I like a well-made bed.  Its the little things.  Maybe I like it because I'm not the one wrestling with the sheets in an attempt to make it look halfway decent.  It never does when I do it.  I end up throwing the comforter over the entire thing and bathe in my own apathy.
Ridiculous.
So there I was Monday morning reporting for work at my new home.
Before I get sidetracked, let me just say a  huge thank you to my Equinox team.  Wow.  I have never felt more welcomed.  Its been amazing and I am extremely fortunate.  They have definitely been a major source of sanity a midst my INsanity.

...Monday rolls around and no apartment.
I thought for sure by Tuesday I'd be in so I officially checked out of the hotel and had them hold my bags until I could come back after work.  Great plan.  Siiiiike.
I returned from the gym only to find out that I needed another night in the hotel.  Fine,...except that they were booked.
Completely booked.
Holy crap, homeless at 8:30 at night and needed a place asap....out of the 58 nearest hotels, 56 were booked.
I kid you not, I'm sitting there staring at the prices for the last 2 left thinking they better include a bedtime story, foot massage, and wake up call that starts with "Good morning Awesome."
I don't ask for much.

So yes, I made my way to yet another hotel for a single night stay.  I laid on the bed exhausted.  I laughed as a recapped everything to my mom on the phone,...fairly certain she was about to have a slight meltdown knowing I was basically roaming the streets of New York.  Eh,..everything works out.
I am now in my apartment and living the claustrophobic dream.
I have no clue how my brothers and I got everything in there, but its in.  And yes, shoe storage was immediately an issue,  I got rid of about 15 pairs.
I know.  The world is coming to an end.  It hurt my soul.  But the fact is that I didn't need them and in roughly 450sq ft, you prioritize fast.  It was either the shoes or the cat and crazy as it is, I've grown quite fond of that feline despite his tendency to yack on the floor.
Everything else is shoved in places that were probably not meant for storage, but you do what you have to.  I practically have to pole-vault into my bed because its jacked up so high for storage bins underneath.  And if the shelving in the closets give way while I'm standing in front, I might literally die.

I feel like there is so much to catch up on.
I've had numerous NC  clients reach out since I moved here, and I can't possibly express just how amazing that feels.  There is so much transition going on in my life right now and lack of a steady rhythm, so to have that support and care comforts me.  Fuels me.  Inspires me to move forward.
Thank you.
Meeting new people and connecting with clients here has been easy.  For those of you trapped in the stereotypical line of thinking that all New Yorkers are brash, unhappy, and rude,...I'd challenge you on that one.  I have not had once negative experience.  Especially when it comes to business/customer service.  Its been exceptional.

My schedule is all over the place right now as I am building clientele.  A few days last week I got home at 10:30,...I couldn't move.
BUT, I am loving it.  The city is great, the gym is more than I expected, and I'm gradually able to completely LIVE in this new chapter.  Very exciting :)

More updates to come...I promise it won't take as long!

Subway Headbutts and City Pics

Back to rural reality....but oh what a weekend.
It was my NYC trip with two of my favorite people, and we certainly had an amazing time but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see some greenery flying back into North Carolina.  It was great to visit and experience, but not sure I could live there.
For starters, I learned that eye-contact meant 1 of 2 things: I want to see you naked, or I want to cut you.  ....I pretty much gave that up after a few odd stares and potential death wish.
The entire subway experience was a cultural study in itself.  Me and my girlfriends would laugh and carry on, and people just stared at us as if we were about to pass on malaria via the giggles.  No laughing, no talking, and don't get cocky with your balance skills when the thing starts moving.  I nearly bit the dust a couple of times and started a domino effect simply because I thought assuming a "defensive stance" was going to be enough.
I stand corrected.  No pun intended.
Then there was the option of sitting.  Sounds ideal after a day of wondering through the city for hours with self-induced shin splints and exhausted hips. 
Again, not necessarily the best choice.
Numerous times I found myself sitting there with someone literally right in front of me.....fine if my face was not inches from a strangers crotch or backside.  Pick your poison.  One wrong move and I'd have a hard time explaining a black eye.
As I gazed straight ahead, I was often caught in the dilemma "Am I looking at it,...or is it looking at me?"....Ah yes, the questions that plague the mind on the subway in New York...I have yet to validate a proper answer.

The weekend was full of many laughs, lots of walking, great scenery (people included), and amazing food.  Yes, from sushi to pizza to a true NY bagel, I had to experience it all and basically carb load for the winter.  Best pizza I've ever had, and I dominated it like it was my job.
People mistakenly think I eat like a rabbit and have a small appetite,...ha...not true.  No, I don't normally eat like I did this weekend, but will not deprive myself.  I will say that after my pizza coma, I slept for 9 hours...I may have blacked out,...not exactly sure.
However, today I was definitely happy to resume my "normal" eating schedule and what not...starting with 3 cups of coffee at 4am.  Merry Christmas to me.

Ironically, Happy Feet and Sparkles head up there in a couple of weeks.  I know, the Parkers are invading NYC....the world is simply not ready.
I gave dad a serious talk today about his creeping-tendencies before going up there.  I swear he will literally talk to e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e if given the chance.  He's the Wal-mart greeter of life, which is fine in some situations...emphasis on "some".  I told him though, if he starts that mess up there and ends up in a jumpsuit with one phone call and a prayer,...don't call me. 
Between his inability to keep his hellos and smiles to himself in public, and sparkles' inability to navigate a turn-style, debit card, or general directions, I seriously cannot wait to hear stories about this upcoming adventure.
God help everyone.

Well, today was back to the grind with clients and Christmas prep and and and...
December 9th...geez...pretty soon we'll be welcoming a new year with extravagant plans of resolutions and what not.  Yes, I will definitely address that issue in a couple of weeks...brace yourself...the onslaught of tough love is about to overwhelm you....

I will leave you with a few pictures from my girls weekend....

Some potential living room art...

Apparently I didn't come up with this word,...disappointing news I must say...

Damn that pole...