Note to self

Dear Self:

You are 25 years old.  You have a history of being a remarkably responsible girl.  You usually do the right thing.  Let's see if we can try to always do the right thing, ok?

For comparison's sake, let's look at an example of what the wrong thing to do would be:

• Drinking nearly two bottles of wine and two Irish car bombs at a party with all of your coworkers, managers, and two regional managers 
• Inviting your ex to the party with you, especially when you have feelings for a coworker who is, in fact, at the party
• Offering to drive Coworker Crush home because he is too drunk, when you yourself are in no condition to drive.  It is impolite to invite Ex to a party and leave with Coworker Crush.
• Make feelings for Coworker Crush known during the drive.  Feelings that you have had for several months and never spoken of to him.
• Instead of taking Coworker Crush home and meeting Ex back at his house, as promised, letting Coworker Crush convince you that going to 6th Street to do shots is a good idea.
• Doing a shot of Patron and a Jaegerbomb within 30 seconds of each other at Bar #1, and chasing them with a shot of Jameson and a cranberry vodka ten minutes later at Bar #2.
• You and Coworker Crush autographing each others' arms with a Sharpie you found on the sidewalk.
• Befriending a stranger named Tracey at Bar #2, talking to her for all of three minutes and exchanging numbers and promising to hangout soon.
• Deciding that you are still ok to drive after these 45 furious minutes downtown.
• Trying to find your way to Coworker Crush's apartment off of East Riverside as he is passed out in the passenger seat.
• Dropping off Coworker Crush and then realizing that you are wasted.  You start puking in the parking lot.
• Texting Ex and asking him to come get you because you can't drive home.
• Texting incoherent and shoddy directions to Ex because you have absolutely no idea where you are.  It eventually takes him close to an hour to find you.
• Sleeping in Ex's bed with him and allowing him to buy you breakfast tacos the next morning and drive you back to your car.
• Spending all of Sunday in bed and useless with a wicked hangover.

Pretty much none of that is even remotely close to being the right thing to do.  So if we could avoid these types of decisions in the future, that would be excellent.

Sincerely, 
J.

SuperAwesome Austin Weekend

I've lived in Austin for close to 3.5 years now, and somehow this weekend I have manged to have the most Austin-ish weekend yet.  Nothing new, really, but with my friend Mandy visiting from St. Louis, we only have a few days to pack all of the cool stuff in to.

Friday night Flatcar Rattlers played at the Continental Club, which quickly became one of my all-time favorite venues.  They played with two other incredible bands, and it was Phil's last show with the band.  It was an epic night to say the least.

Despite having to work on Saturday morning (with a hangover) Saturday was a fun-filled day with Mandy.  Lunch at Shady Grove, followed by shopping for new running shoes.  I know Austinites love RunTex, but I went to Hill Country Running on South Lamar and had a much better experience.  Walked out with Asics Gel-Kayano 16s with a hefty price tag.  After a much needed nap, we hit Alamo Drafthouse for Robin Hood.  Seriously lame movie, but queso fries, grilled cheese and prosecco made it tolerable.  Especially the prosecco.  I love the Drafthouse!

Today I laced up the new Asics and we headed down to Town Ladybird Lake and walked three miles, then rented kayaks.  The shoes felt great.  The kayaking, not so much.  Harder than it looks.  I've concluded that watercrafts make me look like a spaz.  But I still intend to continue kayaking and get better at it so that I can own my own.  Refer to weight-loss reward chart two posts back.

Tonight includes margaritas and fish tacos at Hula Hut.  Tomorrow I have to work (boo) but more fun with Mandy after work.  And dinner somewhere Austin-ish.  Kerbey?  Perhaps.  How is it evenly humanly possible for this great city to be so damn cool?

Is it possible I've gotten the hang of this?

So I mentioned I want to lose 100 pounds.  And I've had this plan for several years.  I've had the real hardcore plan for several months.  I've been putting this plan into action for several days.

So no, I don't believe I've actually gotten the hang of losing weight just yet.  But changes are definitely afoot.

For example, Old Jess would come home from her early morning job and crawl back into bed for 45 minutes until she absolutely had to get up and go to real job.  New Jess?  Gets home and laces up the running shoes and runs ginormous wicked hills for 30 minutes.  Old Jess stopped at Taco Shack for 2 Shack Tacos and a Dr Pepper 4 out of 5 mornings every week (the 5th usually belonged to Einstein Bros.) This week?  A smoothie whipped up in my own kitchen after running said ginormous wicked hills.  Old Jess liked to "lounge" and "relax" in the evenings after work.  New Jess goes out for more running and cooks dinner every evening.

I am proud of my still-forming habits.  I feel good this week, minus the aching muscles part.  I'm hoping to see a smaller number on the scale on Sunday.  Which means that Mandy's last minute appearance in Austin this weekend cannot derail me.  And neither can Hula Hut margaritas.