Number 35: Run For A Worthy Cause (And For Yourself)

Nervous - so hot right now.

I almost got washed away on my way to spinning yesterday evening (seriously - it looked like a full blown monsoon out there) but I made it to the gym anyway. Yesterday was the perfect day to avoid the gym and one of the toughest (but greatest) spin instructors I've ever had, but I dragged myself out there anyway. EIGHT PEOPLE showed up amidst the rain. Last week, the instructor had to give away his bike we had so many people trying to get in. EIGHT. So making it there was already an accomplishment, but I started thinking about why I go to class every week.

In the fall of 2010, I went through a break up. The relationship wasn't a long one, but it had been an uber-concentrated one. You know the type, a few weeks of intensity where the two of you literally do everything together and your friends start to wonder where this guy even came from and how long he'd be sticking around. I didn't see the break up coming and it hit me hard. So I hit the treadmill. Harder. I got over the heartbreak and into great shape. I ran my first 5k that fall... then stopped running for awhile. Started again. Hurt my back. Stopped. Moved to Chicago. And I started running again. A lot of change happened really quickly and I went through a lot of emotional ups and downs in those first weeks here. Running helped. Lake Michigan was gorgeous and I looked forward to checking out the city and clearing my head. And then it got hot... so I stopped again.

Last week, over a drink, one of my girlfriends asked me to run The Chicago Spring Half Marathon with her. Maybe I should have said no - she's run three halfs before and I've never run more than seven miles at once. Plus, I'm definitely not in the best shape currently. But maybe it was our dodgeball high (that's another story...) or the beer hit me quickly, but I agreed to do it. And the next day, instead of regretting my decision and bailing, I found myself excited. And ready to train. Why?

Because the idea of completing a test of will and endurance reminds me what I'm out here to do. Sometimes I have bad days and I wonder if I'll ever make money on stage. Heck, at this point I'm wondering if someone is ever going to put me ON STAGE. I've yet to be cast in full length show here and while I know it takes time, I'm anxious. So anxious for something to happen. Anything to happen. So in the meantime, I will remind myself that this career is a marathon, not a sprint. I'm still new here and I need to be patient, as hard as that is. And while I continue to audition and network, I will run. 

For me.

Because spin class will go on whether I trek through the rain or not. But I go for me. Because that hour is mine and mine alone. And sometimes when my lungs are staging a coup d'etat, that aerobic pain has the ability to banish all of the bad thoughts from the day and suddenly the only thing on my mind is -- when the hell is this song going to be over?! And it's nice to have an hour where everything truly melts away.

I never thought that I would EVER run a half marathon. EVER. But on May 19, three of my girlfriends and I will run 13.1 miles for the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute. I'd like to say that we chose the half because of the charity, but we didn't. We just wanted to run. So for now I'll just say that I'm glad we're running for a worthy cause, but I'm especially glad I'm running for me.

I won't steal my bestie's blog idea (and you better believe I'm a little bit running for her as well), but you'll be able to follow my progress on my blog as I continue. Because right now, All I Wanna Do is finish the 13.1 miles. And (since technology is crazy) on the day of the race, you'll be able to see where I am on the course via Twitter. How cool (read: terrifying) is that?! We don't officially start training until March, but I've got a few goals of my own to hit before then. For now, I'll probably just update you on the new gear I buy. Like these cool kicks.

Cat not included.

Happy trails!
E

  

Number 39d: The Facebook Fast - Day Four Recap

Well, kids... tomorrow at noon I'll be back on Facebook. 

How do I feel about this past week?

Would I do this again?

Absolutely.

Is there a chance that I might just not reactivate tomorrow?

Yes... but I'm also kind of wondering what you've all been up to all week. :) Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Do I still have plans to own a french bulldog and name it KEVINBACON?

You betcha.

xoxo,

E

Number 39c: The Facebook Fast - Day Two Recap

For those of you keeping track at home, here's what I accomplished in the last 24 hours while avoiding The Book:

- Finished my thank you notes from the holidays, purchased stamps, sent them on their merry and grateful way.
- Crafted, edited, and rehearsed the story I'm set to tell at my audition tomorrow.
- Spent some quality time with the roomies.
- Blogged not once, but twice.
- Returned some long overdue emails and phone calls.
- Yet again didn't have to charge my phone midday.

Call me a dork, but I love to craft status updates. It's not a self indulgent thing, it is part of my love affair with words. I loved my job this summer because I got to put words together every day - I got to be the voice of a festival and the voice for many companies. It was pretty exciting.

I don't miss Facebook, but I miss status updates! (Does that mean I should just convert to Twitter? Ugh.) I really feel like a Gen X (am I Gen X? I always forget...) weirdo but that's that. Right now I'd be complaining about bus etiquette via status updates. At what point is it rude to move because you are too close to a dude coughing up a lung? Like for real man, stay at home. Or take some meds or at the very least, cover your damn mouth. I'd write an ode to you, but I already did that this week. (But seriously I don't have IL health insurance until February so please for the love of Pete, get your germs away from me.)

I'd also have let you know that I made s'mores nachos this evening. Jealous? I bet you are.

But ANYWAY, during this FB drought, I've done a lot of googling about Facebook. (It turns out you really just need to waste some time for the hell of it sometimes.) Here's what I found out:

- Facebook has more than one billion active users. If the company were a country, it would be the third largest in the world after China (population: 1.34 billion) and India (population: 1.17 billion). Some 600 million people use Facebook on mobile devices.
- Facebook engineers originally wanted to call the "Like" button the "Awesome" button. (Barney Stinson would approve.)
- Rumor has it, the kids don't use Facebook any more. So, this fast makes me one of the youngins. Just saying.
- And apparently... this: 

Wow. Morbid.

And with that I'm calling Day Two of The Facebook Fast 

A SUCCESS.

Number 39b: The Facebook Fast - Day One Recap

It's been over 24 hours since I logged off Facebook and I'm actually doing pretty well. I thought I'd be feeling like this:

...but I'm actually feeling much more like this:

That's me, feeling productive and well rested. Here are the things I've accomplished a bit more of since logging off:

- Arrived at the gym on time because I wasn't putzing around on Facebook (Yep. I just said putzing. Deal with it.)
- Actually did some work while the baby napped yesterday. The whole point in nannying was supposed to be the amount of flexibility/time I would have during the day to work on things. I usually spend the first half of a nap scrolling through my newsfeed and the second half looking at all of the buzzfeed articles that caught my attention on my newsfeed. (While we're at it... check this out if you ARE looking to waste time.)
- I WENT TO BED ON TIME.
- I didn't have to charge my cell phone half way through the day. Huh. Go figure.

I only felt like I was missing it twice yesterday, once when I was waiting for the bus and again when I was ready for bed since that's when I usually do some scrolling. It's been a bit refreshing... the only thing I missed was saying HAPPY 23RD BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE BROTHER over some form of social media. Wait... nope. Did it. I'm pretty happy with my Facebook Fast so far... let's see how the next 24 hours go!

Number 39: Go without electricity for a night (Or Facebook for a week)

I'd love to go without electricity for a night and see what happens, but in the dead of winter and the start of audition season, that's really not going to happen. But with a number of auditions coming up in the next few weeks, I've been thinking about my productivity levels and realizing that with so many distractions throughout the day, I'm not accomplishing nearly as much as I would like. And so began the idea of...

The Facebook Fast.

Last week my roommate was discussing a news report her mother had seen about a group of girls who ditched their smart phones for a week to see what would happen. Not at all shockingly, the girls were 100% able to function without their phones. I've recently come to notice just how much time I waste on Facebook. I keep telling myself how much more productive I want to be in the new year, but I've yet to do anything about it. So here it is, friends. Can this internet addicted lady go without Facebook for 96 hours?

I guess we'll find out. I'm hoping the hiatus will allow me to catch up on the blog a bit more (and launch my new idea for 2013!) Because let's face it. I've had at least three posts about rebranding my blog and writing more in the new year, and I've yet to do any of that, but I've updated my status at least once a day for the past two weeks. And I think life will go on keeping track of it on my timeline. Tune in here as the week goes on to see how I'm holding up against the pain of withdrawal.

Eek... wish me luck!

Number 33b: Write a Scathing Letter to the Editor OR An Ode To An Idiot

An Ode To The Accidental Train DJ

Oh, Train DJ with your non-noise canceling headphones,

I know it is you who is filling this entire train car with your kids-these-days rap music.

And it's not because of your skin color or age or dress, but because of the muffled obscenities emitting from your cheap headphones.

Oh, what's that? You have one earbud dangling around your neck so you can hear what's going on around you?

Well, here's an idea, lower your music and maybe you'll hear even better. And prevent some serious hearing loss.

And my oncoming migraine. 

Oh, accidental DJ, it's not that I don't appreciate being able to hear some well crafted lyrics about some dude's sexual prowess. (Because clearly if you need to sing about it, you really can make ladies' undergarments drop like that.) (Gross, ps.) 

But I really think the elderly lady standing next to you on this 8 am commute is trying to figure out how to politely ask you to turn down your music before she politely removes your headphones from your ears and accidentally crushes them to a pulp on the train car floor with the heel of her shoe.

Or maybe that's just me. 

Because I'll tell you one thing, Mr. DJ, I'd love to crank TSwift every day on the train, but it's just not polite to my fellow commuters.

So, to sum up, Train DJ. Shut it, before I --

Oh, what's that? It's my stop? You win this time, Train DJ. But karma's still listening, and I hope your workplace radio plays nothing but Justin Bieber and Call Me Maybe on repeat today. (Sigh, if only.)

Best wishes, fellow riders, this girl's got a children's music class to attend.

Number 65: Remember the "a la mode" (Or Remember Why You Started This Blog in the First Place)

2013.
The new year. For some, this is a time for new beginnings, a fresh start, clean slate. For others, it is a time to celebrate. For me, it is a time to remember where I have been and how much further I have left to go. I stopped making resolutions years ago because I felt like I never stuck to them. But looking back at all of the new people and new experiences that 2012 brought into my life, I am thinking of the new year as a benchmark, and an opportunity to be thankful for everything I have.

Moving far away from my family, friends, and my home state was a hard thing to do, but it was a change I needed and I do not for one moment regret doing it. There are good days and there are bad days and even on the days where I feel like I belong and everything is falling into place -- well even on those days, especially on those days, I miss my loved ones the most. You can replace so many things in your life. You can figure out how to make a fresh start in so many ways, but you can't replace the people who truly love you.

Sometimes I sit on the bus with my headphones in, but the music off. I listen to people sharing and living and that's when I feel the most like I'm actually a part of things. Of the hum and the doldrum. Those are the days I realize that the city isn't new and that I don't stick out. And those are the days I know something's headed my way. Because this life doesn't stay quiet for long. And because every once and awhile I look up at the skyline... and it all feels fresh again.

And I remember that the city is magical. And still new. And I can't help but feel that 2013 has something special in store for me.

But today, in this first week of this new year, I am thankful for everyone in my life. From Pittsfield to Everett to DC to Sitka to Israel to San Francisco and to this little town they call Chicago. I am thankful to all of the people who love me and have faith in me. I love you back.

This year, my only resolution is to love. So get ready for it, friends. It's going to be a good one. Happy New Year.

xo,
Erika

(...and stay tuned! Because the blog is getting a revamp and some more love in 2013 as well.)