I would hate to give the wrong impression...

I feel like if you read my blog (and weren't around me yesterday) it might sound like I "have it together." I'm currently balancing grad school, a graduate assistant position, ad hoc consulting projects and triathlon training.

Don't let the blog fool you!

I may have just tipped the balance, and not in my favor.

I'll now be interning for an insurance company based in Baltimore.  Two days a week I'm adding a 6 to 8 hour day interning, plus at least an hour drive each way.  And I added this all in during midterms and when I need to spend this weekend in New Jersey.

Yesterday was my first day at the internship and it went really well.  Naturally I have gave myself 2 hours to complete the 1 hour drive and had ample time to get breakfast and do some reading before starting the internship.  Unfortunately I was also up at 5:45 to accommodate that 2 hour drive.

But it could have been worse...

I could have been commuting into DC instead of out of it!

After the internship I rushed back to DC for class where I discovered I had a lot more work to do on a presentation due next Wednesday. Trying to fit in time for that really threw more for loop.  Finally settled on taking a train to NJ instead of driving (that's 6 to 8 hours productivity back!).

Of course booking at train at the last minute for a weekend was going to be about $300 round trip.  I was all set to pay that - I figured it was actually a small price to pay for my sanity - when I remembered, I had points! I used points to pay for one leg and then bought enough points to cover the second leg. Paying out right for the return would have been $131 but I could buy enough points for $83.  So basically, I beat Amtrak.

So I'm feeling a bit better about getting through this next week.  By 5pm next Thursday I should have 2 group projects, 1 presentation, 2 midterms and a 12 to 15 page paper behind me and be heading to Spring Break (where the only thing I have to worry about is working full time in Baltimore)!

But I'm still concerned about how I'm going to add in 60+ minute workouts on days when I'm commuting to Baltimore but I think I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it...

***
Training plan - 26 minute swim

My plan - Attempt to get 54 lengths done in 26 minutes - swam 54 lengths in 30 minutes on 2/11.

Actual - Just missed my goal of 54 lengths in 26 minutes, I was able to do 52 in 26:11 which works out to about 50m/minute so that's still faster than my swim on 2/11 which works out to about 50m in 1:06. For some reason when I was in the pool I thought my goal was 56 lengths and I reached a point where I knew that wasn't going to be possible but I might have been able to eek out 54 lengths. Next time!

Lest you think I've changed

Anyone who read the previous iteration of this blog might remember my semi-crazy schedules and calendars.    While I haven't changed, the focus of my calendars/schedules certainly have.

I like tracking my workouts on a calendar so I can look back and see what I've done/how many days I ended up taking off/how many days of strength v cardio/etc. I've also always needed a plan so I usually sketch out my workouts a week or two in advance.

Speaking of needing a plan...I may or may not plan almost every minute of my week on Sunday evenings. It's just a rough guide. I promise I can be flexible...sometimes?

This is why I shouldn't be given too much information...

I have so many questions and no one to answer them!

The organization running the training program Vic and I are doing just posted the training plans!  The actual orientation for the program isn't until next Saturday (at 7am...ugh) and technically the training doesn't begin until Jan 29th.  So now I just have all these questions and I have to wait for answers (I hate waiting).

Some of my questions include:

• If I'm already running/swimming/biking longer than is prescribed on the training plan, should I keep up with what I can already do, or stick with plan?
• Can I swap workouts around across the week?
• When we get up to working out 6 days a week, can I take a different day as my "off" day?
• Is there a benefit or detriment to stick with my current strength training workouts on the off days?
• When we get up to working out 6 days a week, should I do strength training in addition to the running/swimming/biking or forgo it all together?
• If I can't bike outside, any tips on using the gym bikes? Settings? Resistance? Hills? etc
• What if I have to miss the training tri? Will there be other opportunities to practice transitions?
• All the plans only have run/swim/bike times, what distances should we be expected to accomplish within those times?
• How soon after the goal race can we expect to be able to complete another race? 
• I saw the first happy hour is a block from my apartment, how do I make sure the future ones are as well?

I'm sure there are other things I need/want to know, this is just what I came up with in the first five minutes, and it doesn't include the questions I assume will be covered the various bike maintenance/nutrition/gear buying/etc clinics. 

Very much looking forward to getting the answers to these questions and getting started!

Rookie Mistake

I had every intention of getting up at 6am this morning. Unfortunately I set one of my two alarm clocks to 5am instead. That was a rude awakening for sure. The hotel alarm clock was set five minutes fast and I had intended to set it for 6:05 and I guess I got overexcited when I saw a 5 and just stopped?

Side note - I really hate when alarm clocks are set fast. If I wanted to get up at 5:55, I would set my alarm at 5:55. I don't need Hilton deciding I should get up five minutes early.

Clearly I have been paying for my lost hour of sleep all day...

What is wrong with this sign??

This sign was posted all over one of my hospitals this week. Can you spot what's wrong with it? I'll give credit for 2 different things. (One of which only bothers me because I'm crazy like that)

And by credit I mean I'll buy you a drink.

What a difference a day makes!

Tuesday night on my way from DC to Des Moines I few Delta and was upgraded to first class. I've taken this flight probably 4 times now and always been upgraded, and I only have the lowest level of status on Delta.

Wednesday night I flew back from Des Moines on United through Chicago. On the Chicago to DC flight I was "eligible" for an upgrade...but so were 34 other people...and I was 29th!  So not only did I not get upgraded, but I had a middle seat.

I don't understand how some people manage to sit so still. The folks sitting on either side of me didn't seem to move at all during the flight. Just sat there nicely and did work on their computers or read. I, meanwhile, am repositioning ever five seconds. Crossing legs, uncrossing legs, stretching, one leg up on seat, 2 legs up on seat, crossing, uncrossing, repeat as necessary.

I feel bad for whichever one of my family members sits next to me on our flight to the Dominican Republic!

So many things wrong with this product...

I've seen this "texting dictionary" at a few different airports recently, and today at DCA all the clerks were wearing little badges further advertising it. This product bother me for so many reasons!

1. It's $4.99! Really?
2. You could find this stuff all for free online! Or in the actual dictionary since apparently LOL, FYI, OMG  and “♥” have all been entered in the OED. (Side note: There are so many things wrong with the recent update to the OED but that's a different blog post for a different blog!)
3. Who buys this stuff???
4. How many acronyms are there (that people legitimately use) that you need a spiral bound dictionary?
5. Of all things in an airport store, this is the product you choose to hype??
6. How do the producers of this product really see it being used? Do you read it and memorize the acronyms? Or carry it around with you to look them up when someone texts you some funky symbols or letters?
7. How is it actually structured? Do you look up the acronym or the phrase? For example would look up Starbucks and find *$? Or look up *$ and learn that means Starbucks? Or does it have both, like a Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary?
8. Possibly the thing that bothers me most about this product is the amount of time I've spend thinking about it!

Sitting in the Bulkhead...overrated??

I know many consider the bulkhead to be a coveted seating option but, personally, I think its more trouble than its worth! My perspective might be a bit skewed by the fact that I have no need for additional leg room, all 5 feet of me does just fine in coach.  If I do find that I have been assigned a bulkhead seat I routinely move myself!

I nearly always have 2 carry ons, one of which is roller suitcase. Finding overhead space for a suitcase is difficult as it is. But overhead space for a suitcase and my laptop bag is often impossible. Or if I put both up there I end up angering the people around me, also fighting for that overhead space. Not to mention then when I want to get my laptop out it's a hassle.

Fortunately I won't have to worry about that tonight. I'm sitting in First.

I'm too OCD for my hotel room

The picture isn't crooked...the shower fixture is!

This bothers me to no end.

I wish the world came with signs...

Yesterday I flew from DC to Manchester, NH and really enjoyed the scenery.  I used to steadfastly require the aisle seat when I traveled, mostly because it is significantly more convenient should you need to get up on a flight (because it's super awkward when you need to get up and you're in the window seat, the passengers next to you are sleeping and one is holding a baby). However in the last few years that has changed, mostly because United boards their plane window seats first (followed by middle and then aisle) and before I had status I knew that if I wanted overhead space I was going to need to sit in the window.

Now I just really enjoy it! I love flying over cities at night. I get a kick of areas that seem very precise with very consistent rows and columns of streets and lights. I like flying over during the day and watching the scenery change. I even like flying above the clouds (see earlier random photos).

I just with I knew what the heck I was looking at! My geography knowledge has never been very good. I never have a good sense of even what states I could be flying over. It would be a lot easier if the world just came with signs.

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem.

I think I need to get some distance from my blackberry. I went to bootcamp this morning (yay me) and got called out by my instructor for checking emails while stretching...at 6am.

When I fly my cell doesn't even always make it into my bag. Sometimes I keep it in my lap for the hour and it get turns on as we're touching ground. I find myself checking it constantly, even if I'm reading in bed and about to go to sleep.

I'm headed to South Beach in about 8 or 9 days for a week of vacation. I'm already stressed about it! I don't think I'll have access to internet but I'll be getting these email, reading them, and not being able to do anything about it.  It's really hard to relax by the pool when you're thinking about all the emails you need to respond to!

On the other hand I do draw the line somewhere. I just saw a Chevy Cruze commercial which offers real time facebook updates. Do you really need facebook embedded in your car??

And this would be why I always set two alarms.

Whenever I travel I always set 2 alarms. One on my cell phone and another on the hotel alarm clock. That paid off big time yesterday. I had set the hotel alarm for 4:50am and my cellphone alarm for 4:45 am because I noticed the clock was about 5 minutes off. What I didn't notice was that the time was actually 12 hours and 5 minutes off. When my cellphone alarm went off at 4:45 am and the clock alarm did not I finally noticed it was set to PM.

How does this happen? Who changes the alarm clock to 12 hours off?

Going to bootcamp once a month might do more harm than good

As much I enjoy my job, and the travel that is part of it, there are few things that fall by the wayside, especially lately. One of those things is fitness (the other being a social life). I used to do these bootcamps 2 to 3 times a week at 6am in the morning. I love the high-energy, high-impact, ass-kicking work outs. I'm just not a pilates kind of girl (just a personal preference, no judging here).

In December I put my membership on hold for a month. I knew I had a busy schedule, would be traveling and was going home for 2 weeks. Since then I've only been back to bootcamp twice! Part of that is definitely my fault. It's really hard to get up at 5:45 when you worked late the night before and will likely be working late the next day (and it is freezing outside). But part of it is definitely the work and travel schedule.

I'm not sure that going once a month is worth it! In fact I think it might do more harm than good. I'm trying to get myself back to the gym more often or work it into my day when I'm traveling. But 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer is just not the same as an hour getting yelled at to do more push-ups (and lunges and squats and sprints and crunches, etc). I was sore for days last month. I'm going to be sore for days this month. Which is fine but not going to be all that helpful for any longer term results or endurance.

I'm going to keep trying (mostly because I'm still going to be paying for it)! I think I can go back next Friday. Maybe I'll make it twice this month!

My Carry-On

For a while now I have been wanting a new bag. My current bag is getting dirty. But after some thought I realized, I don't want a new, new bag. I want a new version of my same bag.

My current bag is perfect. I like that it has wide straps on the shoulder. It's very sturdy and I don't worry about the straps ripping out.  And that's a valid concern! I realized as I was digging through my bag looking for keys just how much I carry around. So my next (cleaner version of the same bag) has to be able to carry my life around in it as well as my current bag. But I don't want a larger bag. I'm sure I could find something else to carry and I'm just not sure my back/shoulder/necks could handle it.

Case in point - this is what was in my bag today.

Toiletry Guilt

Let me preface this with: I know this is a weird topic for a blog post...

Actually I guess I could preface a lot of my posts with that disclaimer...

Anyway.

When I travel I bring all of my toiletries with me, including shampoo/conditioner/face wash/etc. But I still take the free shampoos, lotions and soaps from the hotel and donate them to the soup kitchen (of sorts) where I volunteer from time to time.

But I usually use the bath soap they provide and always feel guilty about it! It seems so wasteful for me to use a whole bar of soap (even if it is just a little bar) for 1 shower when it could be donated to someone who needs it more than I do and can use it more often than I can.

I should probably just invest in some shower gel and start carrying that around as well.

Also, whenever I check out from a hotel I do a quick look around to ensure I'm not leaving anything behind. When I glance into the bathroom I see this one lone bottle of conditioner left on the counter. I always wonder what the housekeeping staff things about the random girl cleaning them out of toiletries, except for the conditioner.

(Sorry folks, haven't traveled in a few days and I'm scraping the bottom of the blog barrel)

Condiments.

Yep. I'm writing a post on condiments...I didn't think that would be a blog topic I would write about either...

But I've noticed, at multiple places now, that hospitals offer a veritable plethora of condiments. I've seen everything from your typical ketchup, mustard, mayo, salt/pepper, etc. But the hospitals I've been frequenting go so far as to offer packets of: vinegar, BBQ sauce, lemon juice, honey, Texas Pete, soy sauce, little packets of Dash seasoning mix, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some!

One hospital even gives away little containers of peanut butter, something for which I'm used to paying. I truly appreciate those because when you're back to back in meetings and don't have time for lunch the free peanut butter helps!

Unfortunately they also give away paper packets of Parmesan cheese....

Parmesan shouldn't come in paper packets...

 

Guess which one of these upsets me more...

Not going to sleep before 4am this weekend.

Getting up at 4am this morning.

Not getting into my hotel until 12:30pm tonight.

Needing to wake up at 6am tomorrow to drive for 2 hours.

Someone playing foreign music videos on their laptop in the airport without speakers.

On the cusp...

I'm on the cusp of reaching at least the first level of status with my primary airline, hotel chain and car rental agency. There were times when I thought I would make by year's end. But this time next week I should be Premier on United, Gold Preferred Guest with Starwood and a member of #1 Club Gold Five Star at Hertz.

What does that all mean?

At United I will now be eligible for: 

• Complimentary seats in Economy Plus
• Unlimited Domestic Upgrades
• 25% bonus award miles
• 2 Checked bags for free (as if I ever checked my luggage)
• Priority check-in and boarding (this is key!)

At Starwood Hotels (Sheraton, Four Points, W, etc) I will now be eligible for:

• 50% bonus Starpoints
• Enhanced Rooms
• Late checkout
• Complimentary weekday newspaper
• Gold Preferred Guest Special Customer Service Number
• Check-cashing privileges up the $300 (woo hoo)

At Hertz I will now be eligible for:

• Free rental days (with limited black-out dates)
• Special savings offers that can be used anytime
• One-car class upgrades
• A 10% bonus on #1 Awards Points on qualified rentals

With the drastic increase in the amount of traveling I'm doing I should be able to reach higher levels of status next year. I'm happy to have at least gotten to the lowest level of status primarily for the priority boarding  and slight increases in points I'll be receiving going forward. I should actually hit these goals sometime next week between my 6 flights, 3 hotels and 2 rental car reservations!


This is exciting stuff folks.

Not a story I really want to tell...

Because it's embarrassing!!

But I figured - I talk about the good, I might as well talk about the bad.

This morning was an all around fail. First of all I was up at 5:15am - that's always a fail. I tried to get cash out of the ATM in my building but it wasn't working and wouldn't read my card. I tried to print my boarding pass and could not get the business center printers to work. I thought my luck was turning around when I got the airport just fine, through security with no problems (and no AIT or pat down) and safely to Boston. But that was not the case...

When I got to Hertz I found my name right away on the #1 Club Gold board and my car was (seemingly) right in front of me. I was excited to get a Nissan Morano because I like to drive bigger cars but rarely get to.  It wasn't until I got to the exit that I realized...it wasn't my car! There was a different name on the paperwork. At first I just thought someone made a mistake and put the wrong car in my spot. I even confirmed that my name was still scrolling on the marquee above the car. Unfortunately that spot already had a new car in it and I had to go inside to figure out what happened...

Apparently, what happened was I took the wrong car! The sign between 5 & 7 was sort of in between the 2 stalls and I picked the wrong one.

But I figured I was back on track and not too worried because I had over 3 hours to drive 2 hours.

Almost immediately after leaving the parking lot I came up to the toll. And not just any toll but a $3.25 toll. Usually I get an EZ Pass type product and the tolls just show up on my credit card. Unfortunately this time I didn't (what they call) a PlatePass this time. I had to roll up to the toll both and explain I had no cash. Apparently you can get an envelope and mail the toll in.

Ok - fine. I'm back on the road. Won't have to pay a fine as long as I get my toll in the mail in the next 2 weeks. Still have plenty of time to get to the hospital....

Until...I miss my exit! And start heading into Boston instead of away from it. To correct my mistake I had to go through (and not pay) another toll. Fortunately at this point I was able to stop a gas station and get cash, take a breath and get going on my way (for good this time).

This experience did not do anything to help my dislike of driving.

Upgrades!

I had my first taste of upgraded travel this week and I want more! My company has worked with Hertz to have the fee for Hertz #1 Club Gold program waived. For some reason I had trouble accessing this program initially and therefore had to actually wait in line to pick up my rental car (the horror)!  However my membership finally kicked in on this last trip to New York.

Words cannot describe the delight I experienced when I saw my name in lights on the board as you walk into Hertz indicating where I could find my paperwork and car. Mere moments later I was in my (baby blue Nissan Versa) car and on the road. But not before I snapped a picture of my name on the scrolling marquee above my car. An hour or so later I arrived at the Mahwah Sheraton to discover I had been upgraded there as well! Ok - so the only difference I noticed was a nicer couch, but still - I'll take it!

This past year I didn't take the upgrades situation too seriously, for most of the year I wasn't traveling that much.. Sure - I tried to be consistent in the airlines I was flying and the hotels I was staying in, but I probably could have been better. So now I'm taking it much more seriously and I have the tracker to back it up. I"ll be monitoring my progress towards various status levels on a recurring basis. And attempting to be much more consistent with the airlines and hotels I book with.

I'm close to reaching the first level of status with United and should hit it by year's end. I've been told I can call and explain that I've started a job where I will be traveling multiple times as week and ask for them to bump me up. But I sort of feel like that's cheating! Although ask me in a few months and I have might have changed my mind about that...