Tuesday soreness

Something about that first night back is just awful. 

I slept until 8:30am and couldn’t go back to sleep.  I made myself some eggs and fried some chicken sausage. I ate breakfast in bed with a big glass of water and Hulu on my computer.  The episode of Glee I could watch made me so mad. Kate Hudson’s character is just Rude. Then I started watching Master Chef and sleep was nowhere in sight.  I skyped with a friend… one of my favorites.  We may not talk as often as I would like, but when we do it is so refreshing.  He knows how to put everything into perspective.  After that I commenced my pre-workout routine, which consists of a moderate amount of bitching and moaning and texting friends to tell me I’m fat so that I will go.  When I got to gym I discovered that it was a partner WOD…ugh.  I love a good partner workout however, I’m still new and don’t know that many people so my anxiety level went through the roof.  While running 400 meters one of the other guys tripped and another got a cramp and couldn’t get up off the sidewalk I decided it could always get worse for me and felt better knowing that the awful jumping rope/bouncing/pogo exercise yesterday hadn’t just sucked for me.  (That’s a quadruple run-on sentence but idc get out of my life) 

We did a complex 4 rounds… 3 deadlifts, 3 high pulls, 3 front squats, and 3 24” box jumps.  Not for time and the goal was to increase weight each time.  Which I did. The 1.25 lbs plates count…right?  I made it to 105 and was tired.  We still had a whole WOD to go… this was supposed to be a warm up. Yeah, right.  Then we took turns finding our 1 rep max hang squat clean.  Once honestly as much as I hate to clean anything this is one of my favorites.  After doing to movement 8 times I made it to 155! Which I’m happy with.  I tried 165 and dumped, the 160 and failed.  Story of my life.  But overall, I feel great. I am so excited to finally be feeling good about my workouts again!

I enjoyed some butternut squash, some sweet potato, and a protein shake before braving traffic at 6pm.  I called my mother on the way and wrongfully got her hopes up about me maybe being able to come home for Christmas. It’s sad that I have the time off but can’t go because flights are so freaking damn shitting expensive.  That week a flight to Birmingham with 2 stops… that’s right, 2… will cost around $900.  I lol’d and contemplated writing the CEO’s of these airlines hate mail.  So I get to tell her tomorrow.  I’m kind of throwing myself a pity party on the inside because my family and home are awesome during Christmas. 

I’m so excited about my stuffed peppers in my lunch box. And my Blueberry Lara Bar… divine.

Hope this wasn’t boring friends… but what can you say about the day before your first work night?

Oh and they are blocking off my street to film an effing movie. Can’t wait to see and hear about the chaos that will probably keep me from sleeping in the morning.  

Oh Monday...

8 am depression happened Monday morning…

Not only was it my first 8am WOD since leaving Birmingham, I was really missing my friends back home.  I had them on my mind the entire workout. Not only that but it was highly focused on agility… need I say more? I almost landed flat on my face several times, said multiple cuss words, and tripped over my own two feet.  However… I did do 100 games standard push-ups in 8 minutes and 50 seconds! I really didn’t do that bad. First we jumped rope for 400 meters. Know what that means? I was confused too haha we basically had to bounce 400 meters while still jumping rope.  We had to bounce both feet at the same time, so you couldn’t like run and jump rope at the same time… btw who the eff is coordinated enough to do that. Not this one.  Then we lined up 7 24 inch boxes and 7 21 inch hurdles and after each box over we jumped laterally over the hurdle back and forth.  We each went taking turns trying to beat each other and our own times for a total of three times. I think my fastest was 20 seconds, maybe? I was so nervous it was hard to keep track.  Then we did a three-cone drill.  Equally embarrassing, haha. We each went for a total of three times. I think my best time was 9.8 seconds.  Then came the 100 game standard push-ups for time with a 10 minute cut off.  Seeing how many people hadn’t finished in the classes before made me nervous.  However, thankfully I finished in 8:50. Boom.

The best part about working out is the yummy chocolate goodness that is my pre and post workout reward.  It’s like drinking heaven.  Literally.

After that I came home and made a lovely breakfast. Eggs, veggies, a piece small piece of left over chicken, and a piece of tuna.  All I can say is yum.

How awesome is this day so far?!

I’m meeting a guy for date night in silver lake and I am so excited.  Silver lake is kind of like a hidden hipster gem in Los Angeles. There are awesome apartments, rich neighbors, interesting people, cool shops, and trendy restaurants. Well, lets be honest I’m pretty much in love with all of LA so yeah… I’m excited.

Last night was a complete let down. I went with my friend and we stuffed our faces with sushi and drank beer while watching the Raiders and then the Saints game.  Pretty perfect. I came home with the intention of maybe taking a nap but definitely changing clothes.  Well a shower and nap happened. I woke up at 1:25 am. Said a few cuss words. Met a friend for eggs and bacon. Then went back to bed. Haha and started my day as above.

I also received a sweet facebook message from a friend back home that made me miss it even more. Though I am happy here and making friends and having so much fun I cant help but reminisce about those people I went from seeing almost every other day to not at all.  It made me teary eyed. And I kinda wanted to let it all out. But I didn’t… thankfully.

While doing laundry at my neighborhood Lucy’s Laundromat my date called and cancelled. Bummer. He said that he could already tell production on his movie was going to run late and he wanted me to be able to have time to make plans.  Which was nice but as you can tell from above, I was really looking forward to it. Only in LA can you make that ‘excuse.’ We made plans for Thursday night (my next off night), talked for a few minutes and said goodbye. Then he text me right after we hung up saying sorry again… too much? I think not.

After a shit ton of laundry I went to Trader Joe’s and bought supplies for the week.  Then braved Whole Foods by The Grove, which is ballsy.  The women that shop here are much more terrifying then the fags at the WeHo Whole Foods.  Most are very nice, though.  As I was picking out my spaghetti squash a lady asked me how I cooked them.  I told her and she even offered to email the recipe she was wanted to make in exchange for my advice! Its pretty paleo minus the feta!

After laundry,I came home and made Paleo Stuffed Peppers, which once again tugged on my heart, seeing as it’s my friend’s recipe.  I finished off my bottle of Skinny Girl wine that I had started the night before.  Omg this stuff is the shit... and for only 100 calories per 5 oz.  I’ll take it.  I even remembered my friend's advice to turn them over on towels to drain the extra grease!  I was excited to have a ton of the stuffing left over for my eggs the next few days! YUMMO! I wanted to be lazy but instead went to Busby’s on Wilshire to watch the Clippers game.  My new favorite team.  They are really rough! Straight throw bows (elbows) and don’t even try to hide it! Even Mr. Kardashian is rough… oh excuse me, Mr. Odom. I drank blue moon all night and was in heaven with my lovely friends. 

On to workday number 1… FML

Settled in... and missing Thanksgiving

Holy Crap this is my 5^th week in L.A…

I can’t believe I have been away from my family, friends, and Birmingham for that long. Oh, and missed a Holiday.

Where to start…

I must apoligize again for not blogging. Not that I have that big of a following or anything, haha. I’ve been cheating with my journal. Getting used to this is kind of like when I first started using a Kindle. I hated it. I missed my paper books. And in a way I miss my pen and paper.  My friend back home and I had a conversation about journaling that made me start when I was in my last semester of nursing school so it has been hard to break that habit. But I promise to make an effort.

Work has been amazing. I have made so many friends both travelers and permenant staff that have made my transition even easier! They love hearing what nursing is like in Alabama. For one, they can’t believe we actually have cutting edge surgeons and doctors. I mean really, it’s not a 3^rd effing world country. For second, they are appalled by the conditions.  I have to say that about here, the staffing is generous.  But then when I think about it… it’s not that it’s generous, but that it is SAFE! I friend in SF told me that once I was a nurse in California I would never be able to go back to Alabama and she may be CORRECT!  Sometimes in my unit there are as many (or more) nurses then patients! Just crazy. But it makes sense… I mean it is an ICU.

My workout life… well its been challenging.  I am in Love with my gym. The WODs are always challenging and I’m always there for over an hour. It’s taken me awhile to recover from my time off, much like it did when I took time off from the gym in December.  I said I would never do that again and after this time, I hope it never ever does.  Shit, I basically die every workout. But you never know what life will throw at you. The coaches have been supportive and the members have been great.  I mean its not like I’m really doing that bad it’s just my mental game is off and in CrossFit that can be what ruins you.  Calling myself a fatass in my head probably doesn’t help.  But after last week I’m feeling much better and my mental game is back on. Boom. There are some true athletes for me to learn from so im going to take advantage like none other.

My diet is… lacking something to be desired.  Ok, I’m probably exaggerating that too. But, sushi is definitely getting the best of me.  Last week I ate at least one roll almost every day.  That’s a lot of rice.  Like a lot.  No bueno. I’m going to have lunch with a friend… we are going to stuff our faces with sushi… then hold each other accountable to having it only one day a week, maybe two. (let’s be honest it’s a hard habit to break.)

Now onto serious stuff… being with out my family on Thanksgiving.  Thank goodness for my new friends here.  They kept me intertained and even invited me with their families.  That was nice to have.  We all went out on Wednesday night, which is like a tradition in West Hollywood.  Everyone goes out the Wednesday before.  Everywhere was packed and we absolutely had a blast.  There were a couple of special performers and events that kept the night going well into the wee-hours.  I slept in and went to Runyon Canyon.  It was the nicest weather and completely took my mind off things.  Then I freaking got lost and ended up being on top of that huge ass hill for and hour and a half.  I met a friend at the movies to FINALLY watch the new Twilight movie.  It was effing awesome.  Edward and Jacob definitely took my mind off things.  Funny story… So the theater we went to is so nice.  But, its in Korea Town.  I don’t know if you know but Los Angeles has the largest Korean population in the world… outside of Korea itself.  I didn’t think anything about it.  Until… we were sitting in the previews and the first one was in damn Korean.  I was like oh shit.  I looked at my friend and said “ummmm everyone around us is speaking Korean and the preview is in Korean and all the workers are Korean…shit!” Just as I was pulling out my phone to google the theater and see if all the movies were in Korean when the second preview came on and was in english… with Korean subtitles naturally.  We had a good laugh.  After the movie I went home for a nap because I work night shift and that’s what we do.  I woke up, got fabulous, and went to Hollywood.  We met at a restaurant/bar on Hollywood Blvd in the heart of Hollywood itself, Cabo Cantina.  This group I’m especially Thankful for.  They are travelers too and like me were missing their families.  It was nice to have a group of friends going through the same thing.  We ‘people watched’ (because in that part of Hollywood there is prime ‘people watching’ to be had.  People walk down the street smoking a blunt, acting crazy, dressing crazy, and being themselves) and drank margaritas. I ate the biggest plate of nachoes I had ever seen in mah life, and talked to some foreign hotties. It was the perfect night. 

Today on this beautiful Sunday in Hollywood I’m Thankful for this life I have.  I have friends old and new that have shown me so much Love if I think about it enough I get teary-eyed.  I have a family back home that has so much Love and Support for me, I pray I’m not hurting any of them by being away and missing the Holidays. 

I’m finally settled in…  

P.S. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the game, as would be tradition for me in Birmingham. I got mad at the game and made my friends leave. We went and ate sushi. HA!

Found this hidden on my desktop... from my first two days in L.A.

So, after sleeping in on Monday I woke up starving and without food.  Worst nightmare ever.  I had a Spark and shake and got to work unpacking my clothes.  I have a lot of storage space but I also have a lot of clothes so unpacking caused more frustration then I felt like dealing with.  I abandonded my efforts, took a shower, and navigated my way to West Hollywood.  It takes like 15 minutes if people just DRIVE! I know I’m not from LA but I have a GPS and common sense.  Immediately you can tell who is from the area and who isn’t… just follow them for a block.  This one car literally changed lanes every block for five blocks… what’s your problem??!! A-hole. 

I drove around West Hollywood with no purpose.  Just what I needed.  I stopped at the Coffee Bean for a bit, because that’s what Britney Spears would do, and people watched for a good 15 minutes.  After half my latte I decieded to see where Santa Monica Blvd led me.  Guess where it drives straight to… Beverly Hills.  Literally, right past the Beverly Hills sign and Fountain.  I thought I was gonna die.  I drove around some side streets admiring the beautiful homes and prestine landscaping quickly realizing that reality would probably never allow me to park my car one of those driveways.  So back to Weho I go. 

I went to Tender Greens for lunch and stuffed my face.  It was soooo good.  I met a real estate agent there who was decked out in labels and huge sunglasses.  She was absolutely fabulous.  However, she did ask me if I was cold in my flip flops… I replied ‘It’s 73 degrees…’ Then she asked me why I wasn’t drinking with my midday lunch… I replied with ‘I have NO idea!’ She ordered me a glass of wine and we chit chatted for a hot minute.  Having a few more glasses of wine gave me the balls to go to the Happy Hour at The Abbey.  I had no idea what to expect.

The Abbey is restarueant, bar, club, local/touristy hangout.  I think its famous.  Or at least a lot of famous people go there.  When I took a seat at the bar I was informed that Elton John had just left.  So immediately I decieded I was at the wrong place.  But everyone was nice-or maybe it was the cocktails.  In LA when you get off work, most people go to Happy Hour for drinks and dinner instead of sitting in traffic.  Then go home and crash. 

I learned so much about LA in one day.  When people find out you just moved they all have little pieces of advice for you. 

On the way home I stopped by Trader Joes and stocked up on much needed sustinence.  I made a Paleo dinner and passed out early.  Haha. 

This was literally my life my first week.  I ate lunch at a different place everyday.  Found another good Happy Hour or just went to The Abbey and went out.  It was amazing. 

Tuesday I went to my new gym and actually contemplated not joining a Crossfit gym and going to like an LA Fitness… what was I thinking.  Crossfit has done so much for my life and body… I blame it on the alcohol. 

I have experienced so much…

So this was a Post I Just found on my computer from my first week in LA. Thought it would be good reading. More to follow.

The 3 day drive and my First night in LA... all in one

So I know it has been awhile since I wrote a blog.  I know, I know... I fail.  I was going to blog every day of the drive but let’s face it… all I did was drive! All day for three effing days! It was beyond painful.  If I decide to go back to Alabama I will definitely be taking three months assignments all the way back, HaHa!

Day 1: Was a rather emotional day.  I played my book on tape and talked to friends the whole time, which really helped.  My mom and dad also called a few times.  I even ‘reconnected’ with a friend after he read one of my facebook posts.  He was like, “wtf…where are you going?!” So we chatted the whole time.  After driving to the other side of Oklahoma City I was exhausted! Naturally, in OKC there was a humungous Fair of some kind and every hotel within a 25 mile radius was booked! It was 9pm… I had been up since 5am, driving since 7am.  Thought I was going to die.  I finally called a Hilton and guess what?  They had a room! There is always a catch… It was a smoking room and was $192 for the night.  I mean really? Luckily it was right next to a liquor store so me, my bottle of Tito’s vodka, and a diet Dr. Pepper went to my room.  It wasn’t so bad until I woke up with a smokers cough. 

Day 2: would you think my $192 room would have a complimentary breakfast because I totally would?  Umm no! I guess since Paris doesn’t eat she thinks other people shouldn’t either.  I downed a Spark and a meal replacement shake and took off.  I wasn’t as emotional but I was lonely.  I somehow made friends with the cars beside me.  We all drove the same speed, which was like 75 mph, which helped and flew through the Midwest.  I finally stopped at a subway… ate a salad and kept going. Painful.  Painful.  I talked to my friend who was also moving and it made me sad.  We’ve never been so far apart before.  I found a hotel in Flagstaff and Urbanspooned the nearest sushi place.  Luckily the highest rated one was like 0.6 miles from me.  I had a nice little drink while I got ready…got semi dressy and went to stuff my face.  I literally ordered 28-30 pieces (I had a picture…but recently lost my phone-explanation to follow.) and a martini.  It was absolutely fabulous.  I sat at the bar and way playing on my phone paying no attention to the people around me.  A guy 1 seat down from me got my attention after I had finished eating my outrageous amount of sushi and was finishing my drink.  He said “OMG (Yes he said OMG) I can’t believe someone so small ate that much food!” I was like, “Ummm… thanks I guess.” He laughed, I laughed. We had a moment.  He bought me another drink and we talked until the restaurant was closing.  Don’t let me fool you… it was like 45 minutes haha.  However, I would like to thank that mystery Mid-twenty-something businessman for the conversation.  It was just what I needed. 

Day 3: With a semi hangover I went down to the lobby of my Hampton Inn around 7:45am to the smells of a complimentary hot breakfast.  Effing amazing.  I ate my body weight once again for the second time in 12 hours.  Eggs, bacon, and sausage.  It was Paleo and I was thrilled because by now I’m wasting away.  Legit.  Wasting away.  I drove and drove through the not fun place of Arizona.   Flying towards the state line of California I didn’t even contemplate the idea of stopping at the Grand Canyon or driving to Vegas.  WTF I wanted to be in LA more then anything.  So I drove and then…my book on tape ended.  And I had no more for like 6 hours.  And I had crappy service.  Then I really thought I was going to die.  It was in the San Fernando Valley that it hit me… I was so far from home, my two best friends were soooo far from me…one literally on the other side of the country and the other in Birmingham, and I was in LA freeway traffic! Luckily traffic moved wonderfully. 

I was on North Kingsley Street before I knew it.  I pulled into my units labeled parking place, turned my car off, and sat there…. I don’t think I sat and stared for long but it was a minute.  It took me forever to figure out which key unlocked which lock… in LA each lock has a different key.  I have an outer iron screen door, and then a ‘door’ door with two locks.  Once in I was pleasantly surprised that the apartment was exactly like what it was when the owner and I Skyped.  This was one of my many fears… that I was getting scammed.  But I wasn’t… it was crazy.  Still didn’t stop me from having another moment in the kitchen before I toured the rest of the condo.

I love it.  I take a pic. Call my mom and dad. Text pics to a few friends then start to unload my car.

Unloading my car wasn’t near as easy with just me.  Actually it was painful…just because I dropped a gigantic box on my toe.   And still being paranoid and new to LA I locked all three locks every time I left the place to get more.  I pulled out my iphone (R.I.P.) and downloaded an app for WEHO.  Yes, West Hollywood has its own gay app.  It tells you everything from gay happy hours; to gay coffee shops…you get the picture.  So I looked to see what was going on, made my bed, showered and changed clothes. 

It was Sunday and found a place to have a snack and a happy hour margarita… ok maybe 2… 3 at the most.  Then walked to another bar.  Met some guys that were super nice.  I got their attention when I ordered my drink.  The cuter of the three said ‘Lord Child, where are you from?’ I said Alabama and that sparked a whole conversation.  They admitted my accent wasn’t as bad as they thought someone from Alabama’s would be and I admitted they weren’t as stuck up and rude as I thought people from LA would be.  When I decided to call it a night one of the guys walked me the one block to my car….being from Alabama he didn’t know if I would get scared.  I pretended he did me a wonderful favor and gave him my number. 

When I got back home the stress of all my clothes being in boxes caught up with me.  So naturally, I made myself another drink and watched TV.  Then went to bed… boxes untouched.