The Energy Club

Last night I had the pleasure of getting a guest pass to a spinning class at the Energy Club; which is the gym that I checked out yesterday.

As I mentioned before, it is still quite chilly here, so cycling outside would be quite miserable. So I have decided that I need to start spinning and cross training. When I got the tour yesterday, Karmina spoke very highly of Matt T. He apparently is an Ironman and does a lot of triathlons each year. So there is Matt T. whom is a killer in the spinning room, two Russians that teach the kettle ball class, and then the GM whom is also fit to the T who teaches a class with a step and a barbell on your shoulders. Pretty much is all looks miserable but I can only get stronger from it all. Just observing two minutes of the kettle ball class, made my legs hurt all over. Then can you imagine crying on the inside and having a Russian lady yelling at you? When I think of Russians and exercise, for some reason I think of pain.

I arrived at the spinning class about 10 minutes early, met Matt T., who by the way looks like every other serious triathlete I know, and started setting up my bike. Now I was told that Matt's class is the most demanding and he is the best instructor, so naturally the class was full. The room was 50/50 men and women. I was noticing though that everyone had not one but two water bottles and 3-4 towels, to my one water bottle and one towel. I turned to the lady next to me and asked, "Should I go get more water and just bring the rest of the towels in here, because I tend to work up a healthy sweat?" She just looked at me and giggled. A few minutes later, Matt welcomed the two French women that joined the class for the night. Of course, it would be me that says something smart-aleck to one of the two French women in the room. So I took that as a compliment that she didn't not think my humor was funny, she didn't understand me. :-)

If you have never been to a spinning class you really should go. It is an awesome workout and your butt hurts for weeks after the first class. The pain is what keeps you going back. Because it is only the repeated exposure that helps the pain dissipate. I like spinning because it really helps me hone my form which only helps me on the road. My hope for my Ireland trip is to beat Leslie, a social worker from IN that I met in Utah, up just one hill. She is an absolute beast on hills on the bicycle. She is an amazing woman!

Well, I am off to join the gym today. I enjoyed last night that I need to see what other pain they can offer me! Have a great day everyone.

Slow to get started

Okay, I have settled in here in Virginia and I am wrapping up my second week. I have admittedly been a bit lazy in getting started on my adventures. I think I am still recouping my energy from an eventful three weeks.

Today I visited my neighborhood gym and got some information on some spinning classes and some other cross training activities; as I cannot wait for it to warm up so that I can hit the bike trails around here. I have hit several of my favorite restaurants that I enjoy so much here in Shirlington. There is the Greek chipotle-like restaurant that is yummy. Guapo's mexican that has amazing out of this world guacamole. Then, I don't want to forget the yummy Thai restaurant that I frequent as well.

I can't really complain about it being cold here, as I know that I have readers from all over and everyone is having an unprecedented cold winter. I had the opportunity to go hiking this past weekend, as it was really nice, and I think everyone could agree with me, that Spring can begin anytime. Some of the things that drew me back to this area are not only the nice people, but the numerous bike trails sprawling the DC/VA area, and the many awesome hiking trails. I plan to go back to Great Falls park and hike the Billy Goat trail that I mentioned in a previous post.

I mentioned the zoo in my previous post and just heard today that not only is there a baby panda, but there are two baby lion cubs at the National Zoo. What, what? I can't wait. I just need a day maybe in the forties to head that way. Forty degrees is just warm enough that I won't freeze; yet cold enough that hopefully many of the stay at home moms won't be out in masses with their strollers. :-)

So I need to go mentally prepare for my spinning class tonight. I haven't been spinning in a couple of years. I will let you know if I can move tomorrow or Saturday. This weekend I head back to the dark side and will be back on night shift. It has been nice to be on days for 6 weeks.

The Blur of Three Weeks

Well, in the last three weeks I've moved from Baltimore, visited northern Kentucky and settled in here in Arlington, VA. My final week in Baltimore was busy with a couple of going away dinners and a going away party thrown by my good friends Renata and Emily. Some of my closest friends there in Baltimore were in attendance. What a great group of people!

It has only taken me a couple of visits back home in northern Kentucky to realize that I need to be there longer than a week to see and do all that I would like. Visiting NKY truly does give me a warm fuzzy feeling. It is a place that I know I am accepted no matter what and full of people I don't have to explain my background to. I love meeting all the new people that have the opportunity to meet, but it does get exhausting at times that no one knows whom my friends back home are, whom my family members are, what all of my favorites are etc...... It is the burden that I must bear though moving around so frequently. :-)

So now I am back in Arlington, VA! What a great area to live in! I really do enjoy this area. I am close to work, close to a number of great restaurants, and close to access to the metro. Next week I will start my adventures on the metro to destinations that I want to repeat or unseen adventures. I am uber excited! I mean, I need to get to the zoo and see the new panda baby. That is an obvious must.

I was a bit disillusioned that I would get a day or two of orientation upon my return. Yep, nope that didn't happen. I got there early and ready to go and was given a big welcome back with zero orientation and the sickest patient on the unit. That wasn't cool! I made do and my patient made it as well. That is the most important thing. :-) Day two was much improved and I settled into a rhythm with the charting system. So I am all good and ready to have fun now.

Today I had my cable and internet installed so now I don't have to live like it is the 1980's anymore. It was a rough couple of days! Luckily, I was still able to watch a couple of movies on my iphone. What's a girl to do.  Toodles for now and I will keep you abreast on my adventures.

The Yin and Yang

When I started off on this journey, I had no idea that it would make me so bipolar in my feelings. With every new beginning there must be tough goodbyes. With excitement of each new assignment there comes the trepidation of moving on. As I look around at my numbered possessions, I think why didn't I bring this or that. Then I start to pack my car to leave for my next destination and I think is this or that really a necessity to have with me? I am constantly seeking the confidence to become more of a minimalist. Key word "seeking." I am far from achieving that goal.

Things are winding down here for me in Baltimore. On Monday I am driving home for some down time in Cincy for the week and then back this way to start my assignment in Arlington. I am excited to get back to Arlington. I will be greeted with familiar faces and I am very excited that I will be staying in the same area that I was in with my prior assignment; nestled just three short miles from downtown DC. I have already started preparing my to do list of repeat attractions and things that I didn't have time for my last go around. 

I have really enjoyed my time here in Baltimore and I have made some really good friends. I am sure that I have said this before, but I was not prepared to have to say so many goodbyes with traveling. I guess I never thought I would get so connected with my coworkers. I have become really good friends with a fellow traveler in the unit and her husband. They are actually staying another 3 months for a total of 9 months. We have talked about meeting up at another assignment for sure. We not only have a lot in common but being a fellow outsider as a traveler creates a unique bond. It has really been a lot of fun. 

So it is time to say goodbye to the Charm City. I have thoroughly enjoyed your Inner Harbor, visiting Edgar Allen Poe's gravesite, taking advantage of another city with public transportation, enjoying the sights and sounds of historic Camden Yards, and honing my skills at Johns Hopkins. Til we meet again Baltimore!