Number 31b: Be Better October - The Recap, Part One

It's 5 pm on the first Friday, October 11. I'm insanely exhausted.
But I'm not complaining. Not bitching. Not moaning.
I'm just busy. Which makes happy. Dare I say, satisfied?

Let's recap. Over a month ago I pledged to Be Better during the month of October. With the insanity of the Government Shutdown, and all of the negativity I read daily on the internet, I made the decision to not spread any more negativity last month.

I set six goals for the month of October. Here's how I fared in tackling the first three.

Be Better At Saving. The Challenge: I will not buy any new clothes during the month of October. I will put aside an extra $25 each week into my savings account.

The Halfway Point: I was SO TEMPTED to buy clothes all month. The transition of season just made me crave the purchase of fuzzy sweaters and earmuffs and that new pair of boots. (I mean come on, who doesn't love a fuzzy sweater?) I caved on one item, and that was a new long sleeve for running, which replaced my well-worn (and somewhat pungent) running jacket. So I'll say everyone is better off due to that purchase. (Plus it helped towards my mileage goal -- have I justified this enough to the world yet?)
The Results: I DID IT!! Last week I allowed myself a new fuzzy sweater and a (sale) necklace. Other than that though, I've done pretty well at breaking myself of my spending habit. And the extra $100 I put away this month? Keeping it in my savings account for a rainy day. 

Be Better To My Liver.  The Challenge: Avoid alcohol for an entire week.
The Halfway Point: I cut down on my alcohol intake during the first weeks of the month, but I still found it insanely hard to socialize without drinking. So I compromised with myself, I did not drink within my apartment during the week.
The Results: I definitely could have tried harder to stick to this challenge... but fortunately last week's cold kept me without alcohol for a full six days. So thanks, body, for yelling at me so my mom doesn't have to. Maybe we'll try this guy again after Thanksgiving.

Be Better About Increasing My Mileage.  
The Challenge: Run 60 miles during the month of October.
The Halfway Point: 26 miles (I was only four miles off at halfway!)
The Results: 43.74 miles. I was off my goal by about 3 runs' worth of miles. What I didn't factor in this month? I was in rehearsal and simultaneously finishing writing a play. So while I didn't hit my goal, it wasn't because I was lazy.

The silver lining? In the past three months I've run 131.47 miles. I'm going to cut myself a little slack.

Fun fact? I finished the Hot Chocolate last weekend in a little over 26 minutes. Even though I didn't hit my goal, I'm still pretty proud of myself, folks! Plus, look how much I'm enjoying that chocolate post-race.

All of the challenges actually went much smoother than I was expecting. While this blog in general is about tackling a ridiculous "to do list", I thought I would hold myself more accountable but tracking the goals on the blog itself. But it turns out I was able to stick to my goals with publicly publishing. Maybe I should have also added, Be Better at Blogging About Stuff to the list, but oh well.

Tackling goals is not easy and sometimes it's hard to see progress. I think it really helped to have a set of tangible things I could monitor with numbers - things like amount of money saved and number of miles run with less tangible things like counting to ten before I whine about my life. Do I feel like a better person? Sure. Can I do better? Always. Stay tuned for my recap of the second set of challenges and my next set of silly encounters in the city.

As always, thanks for reading.
xoxo, E.

Number 31: Invent an Interesting Past... Or Work On Creating An Even Better Future

Hey Gen Y. Millennials. Whatever all of you underemployed, over-ambitious, under-40s are being called this week. Can I get something off of my chest? Can I ask a teeny, tiny favor? Could you all please STOP. YOUR. BITCHING. Yeah, I'm talking to you, whoever wrote this article and this article, but I'm also talking to myself. Do you know how many times a week I complain about the "first-world problems" I'm experiencing? Too many. Complaining is natural - I get it. And keeping frustrations in is simply unhealthy. But lately I'm sick of listening to myself. I complain about everything from not having the perfect pair of shoes to wear on a Saturday night, to why I'm a 6 instead of a 4, to complaining about my job, to complaining about my career (and yeah those things are different). And let's not get started on the tirades I've gone on about my love life.

But what do I ever do about it? What do any of us every do about it?

I read a rash of articles every day that just COMPLAIN about the state of our lives without thinking about improving on it. We graduated into a recession, that sucks. We may be dreamers, but why is that a bad thing? We are called lazy, yet somehow we have the time and the means (and apparently the drive) to write article after article about the sorry state we are in - but we can't control those things. I mean someone out there had the time to create a DATING SITE FOR GHOSTS, but we don't have the time to spread any good. Look at what is going on in Washington. It's essentially a massive temper tantrum, but WHY?! This is helping NO ONE. NO. ONE.

So, starting today, instead of acting like this about the things I can't control...

...I'm going to focus on the things I can control and challenge myself to something I'm calling Be Better October. I started this blog (twice) to give myself a challenge. To publicly dare myself to get out and DO something. Here's All I Wanna Do this month...

- Be Better At Saving. The problem? I love clothes. LOVE THEM. But I don't necessarily need to buy any new ones right now.  
The Challenge: I will not buy any new clothes during the month of October. In addition to what I already put aside from each check, I WILL put an extra $25 into my savings account at the end of each week.
The Payoff: I'll have an extra $100 set aside to do something nice for myself. Or a jump start on my holiday present fund.  
The Duration: October 1 - October 31.

- Be Better To My Liver. The problem? Chicago is a drinking town. Everywhere you go, alcohol is not only presented to you, but it is encouraged that you have multiple drinks.
The Challenge: Stay sober for an entire week. (I'll give myself a bye for a celebratory glass of wine on Friday evening. Or when my fantasy team dominates again this week.)
The Payoff: Again, there's the bank account thing... but I'll have more energy to complete my "Be Better" tasks.
The Duration: October 2 - October 9.

- Be Better About Increasing My Mileage. The problem? I ran a half-marathon in May and while I haven't stopped running, I haven't kept my mileage up to the number I'd like it to be. Now that it's getting cooler, it's easier for me to go on longer runs, so it seems like a good time to up my mileage.
The Challenge: Run at least 60 miles this month.To be fair, I ran 52 miles in the month of September. But I'm determined to up the ante.
The Payoff: Looking smoking hot in my not-at-all sexy Halloween costume. (That isn't sarcasm. It's really unsexy. But it is hilarious. Obviously.) And smoking the competition in the two road races I've got lined up for November.
The Duration: October 1 - October 31.

- Be Better To My City. The problem? I feel selfish. In an effort to think and act more positively this month, I think I should do something for my community.
The Challenge: Volunteer at least once this month.
The Payoff: I'm helping to make my city better and someone's day better while betting myself.
The Duration: We'll see what I choose to do!

-  Be Better About Complaining. The problem? I'm sick of negativity. With all of the time I spend complaining about things, I could be using that time to make improvements
The Challenge: Like with anger management, I'm going to count to ten before I complain.
The Payoff: Hopefully I'll be sending out more positive vibes by the end of the month.
The Duration: This one is open ended... the wishful thinking part of me hopes this will become habit.

- Be Better About Working Hard. The problem? No matter how hard I work as an actor, there is always someone working harder.
The Challenge: Find and work out two new monologues by the end of the month.
The Payoff: ...we'll see.
The Duration: October 1 - October 31.

So, here we go internet. I'm trying to do a little good, one day at a time. So here's to a little less bitching, a little more positivity. I plan on feeling like this by the end of the month...

...because really, when I think best self, I think breaking it down with TSwift. Happy October, Friends. I'm off to do some good.

MBFTIBMTTIF: This Is It

FRIENDS! Tomorrow, Sunday, May 19, I will celebrate my four year anniversary as a college graduate. In even bigger news, I AM RUNNING MY FIRST HALF MARATHON IN THE MORNING.

I'm carbed up, hydrated, and ready to go. And it certainly helps that I've received an insane amount of will wishes from friends and family this week. So thank you! Oh, and did I mention that my parents are here to cheer me on?! Well, they are. And I couldn't be happier.

So here we go, kids. If you happen to be up around 7 am CST tomorrow and you'd like to follow my race progress, check me out on Twitter or on Facebook. If this crazy world works the way I think it does, every time I pass a mile on the course, my bib should tweet where I am...

See you all in 13.1!

xoxo,
Erika

MBFTIBMTTIF: Runaway Baby

Before we get started... please click this link. I'm in the mood to give this blog a soundtrack today.

Feeling good? Alright, let's start. With 17 days left til the race, I've got a lot to catch up on. Here was Week 8 in numbers.

2.5 with a stroller.
3 on a treadmill with wet feet.
6.5 in the rain.
8 in the snow.
4 out of anger and confusion.
All 18 miles out of choice.

I think I'm officially a runner. I signed up for this marathon out of a desire to do something for me. All 18 of those miles were for me. Week 8 happened to be the week of the Boston bombing. That week, Monday's miles were to cope with the shock. Friday wasn't much different. I've been tossing ideas around in my head in regards to my feelings about the event, and frankly, many other people have put my thoughts into words in a prettier fashion and you should probably read this, this, or this. (Okay, that last one is just hilarious.)

Dealing with the one year anniversary of a friend's passing, plus Boston, plus the normal turbulent tumult of my ever transient twenties has made the last few weeks less than excellent. But instead of bringing everyone down further, I've made a small departure from my usual blogging style and compiled a list of ten things that made me feel better over the last few weeks  -- hopefully some of them will lift your spirits as well.

1. RUNNING. On Monday, April 15, I ran through Diversey Harbor. Nay, sprinted. I was angry at the news and I couldn't slow myself down until after mile two. I was missing the Boston skyline and instead had this insane view of Chicago midstorm. Boston in my heart, Chicago on the horizon. And I felt better.

2. THIS LINK came to me from my good friend Dani. As someone who is paid to look after a tiny person, I can say that I have multiple experiences like this every day. Henry is a fan of shutting himself in his dog's kennel. Why? I do not know. But it makes me laugh each and every time.

3. TURTLE RACING. What's that you may ask? Exactly what it sounds like. Go to the bar. Buy beer. Get tickets. If your ticket gets pulled you choose a turtle. If that turtle wins the race, you get a free drink or a tshirt. We didn't actually get to race a turtle but I'm 100% going back. It was 100% hilarious and 100% worth the beer I drank out of a solo cup. I recommend this wholeheartedly. 100%.

4. OMG EDITH. Special shout out to THE BLOG THAT PRODUCED THIS MEME.

5. EATING STUFF. Making good use of all of the food Chicago has to offer also helped out over the last few weeks. Right now I'm trying to decide which was better. Eating this Chi Dog Pizza at Dimo's or getting free rhubarb pie last week at Bang Bang. (Side note: Free pie officially makes us regulars! I've always wanted to be a regular somewhere. Couldn't have picked a better spot to make our own.) Shout out to Leor for being present on both food-tastic

occasions.

SERIOUSLY THOUGH GUYS. THAT'S CHICAGO DOG PIZZA.

6. LOVE. Phone calls and texts with my loved ones. I spent so much time on the phone during the week of the bombing. I talked to my parents, my friends in Boston and beyond. And I was overwhelmed at the number of texts I received asking if my family and friends in Boston were okay. Thank you to everyone who looked out for me. I appreciate the gesture more than you know. (Except I just told you, so now you know.)

7. SARA BAREILLES released a new single. Which means a new CD and another tour. Gosh this girl is incredible.

8. THIS ARTICLE. Please tell me these are real comments and not something made up by a comedian. Please, please, please. Not sure you want to click one more thing? This is a preview:

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
- Derrick, age 8 

HILARIOUS RIGHT!??! Get reading.

9.  CULOTTES. I'm happy to report that I've gotten a lot better at biking since last year. But one thing that drives me crazy is always having to wear shorts under my dresses and skirts while I bike. Well, thanks to Target, my problem is solved! Check out these babies, you only THINK they're a skirt. THEY'RE ACTUALLY SHORTS. Mine are adorable like this:

10. PRIDE. I've run with this hat a lot during the past few weeks, and all I can say is, I'm so proud to be from Massachusetts. Proud, proud, proud. And that's helped me getting through. (And yeah, that's Ollie the Owl and me showing some Boston/Brandeis pride. And maybe a little sadness.)

PS - That's me trying to look disheartened. I realize now that I kind of look like I'm saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Deal with it.

Well, Erika, (you might be saying), that certainly was random. It sure was, dear readers. But here's what I've got. Messy things are going to happen every day. Sad things are going to happen every day. But so are the happy and the silly. So all I've got for now is -- just keep running.

Til next time my loves.

xoxo,
E