Stress

Well, my neck is feeling tons better but it's still sore. It's just like sore muscles after a hard workout now, which it a lot better. I wish it would just go away!

That won't happen for awhile though. Work is stressing me out beyond belief. I can handle busy stress, but this is a whole new thing. In this economy, job security is so valuable and I don't feel like I have that right now. When I was hired, I knew there would be a point when the interim position would end and I would hopefully become permanent, and in my former office, I felt really confident that the job would be mine. My boss was very honest about the process and she made it very clear that I was doing the job well and wouldn't really have to worry about keeping my job. Since my office transferred to another division, I have a new boss and the process that was explained to me is no longer being used. The job was only supposed to be posted for 5 days, the minimum length of time for a search, but it has been posted now for over 3 weeks! All my new boss has said to me is that they have received a lot of applications! A few days later, she asked when I was told my interim appointment was ending, and I told her originally April, but in April it was extended to June, so she is extending it to July. I hate this month to month baloney! I also have no idea when or whether I will actually be interviewed! I can't handle not having control over my own future.

I'm starting to apply to other jobs, one at AU (with the support of my former boss) and a few at other universities. I had to do something to regain some power. This is exactly what I was doing this time last year...

Pain in the Neck

I have had a huge pain in the neck since Sunday! It was not a pleasant way to end a beautiful weekend! The Mouzakis wedding was gorgeous and so much fun and we had a good time catching up with old friends at the Davies wedding as well. Both weddings were in beautiful locations (Long Beach Harbor and Newport Harbor) and I should have been entirely relaxed. Sadly, I am ridiculously stressed out by my work situation! This is the cause of the pain in my neck! I love my job! I think it's perfect for me right now, but everything at work is upsidedown and in limbo and has been for the last few weeks and will continue to be. My office is physically and logistically moving from one department to another in a totally unorganized way. It's so crazy to try to figure out who now is in charge of what and who I need to report to at any given time for any reason. Some stuff is staying in the old office, some is going to the new, and some resposnibilities are staying with me, some are going to others, and some new things are going to be added to my plate. But nothing is changing all at once and I don't always know something has changed until I do it myself and it's not the new protocol! Grr! I feel like I look so out of it at work when up until April I was totally in control. So, of course, all of this is making me look and feel bad just when it is time for me to reapply. That's right, reapply! I am still "Interim" and have been since I began in October! I had to reapply and will have to reinterview on the phone and in person in competition with other candidates... that is, if I get a call! Applications were due a week ago and I have not received a call! Nothing is more stressful than fighting to keep a job you have done well all year just at the time when you feel you are doing it the worst!!!

All of this has finally built up to cause spasms in both of my trapezius muscles. Sunday, my neck was mysteriously sore when I went to bed and I awoke at 2:30am in a total panic... I couldn't move my head! The pain was so bad at the base of my skull I thought I was having an aneurysm like my mom! I made Ryan take me to the ER and they gave me an opiate for the pain and did a CAT scan to check for aneurysms since we have a family history and I have PCOS, which can lead to all kinds of things. Fortunately the CAT scan showed nothing was wring with my veins, but the opiate for the pain made me so sick! Not only was my neck still hurting but I was on the verge of blacking out for at least an hour and a half! Ryan was freaking out over my lips being so white! I didn't feel any relief until, for the first time, I peed in a bedpan (yuck!) and got some of the poison out! Shortly after that I was able to leave, but we missed our flight! I spent the rest of the day in bed at Ryan's parent's sleeping away the opiate and avoiding the pain. We were able to fly home Tuesday but my pain didn't subside all week and I continued to feel sick to my stomach and dizzy from the pressure of the muscles on my spine. I was able to check with my doctor today who confirmed I have torticollis in both muscles and prescribed muscle relaxers, Ibuprofen, no more vicodin (it's an opiate and probably what was making me nauseous!!), heat, massage, and relaxation. I will finally be able to return to work on Monday and hopefully this pain will subside soon despite knowing that the stress is here to stay for now!

California!

We're going tomorrow! Super wedding weekend!! Congratulations to Courtny and Dennis and also Kevin and Jessica!! Woo hoo!!!

100th Post!

Yay for 100!!

Well, if you read our last post you know all about my fabulous birthday present- my sweet bike! Today, I took it for a test drive on the Capital Crescent Trail. The trail is awesome! I took my bike on the Metro three stops into town and then ride through the fabulous little shopping area in Bethesda to the trail. It's so picturesque once you're on the trail! There's little historic markers along the way as well, which you know I enjoyed! It's so lush and green with spectacular views of parks, streams, wealthy people's homes, the Potomac River, and then you end up in Georgetown at the waterfront park! It's seven miles from Bethesda to Georgetown. I took a book and packed a lunch thinking I would take a break when I got to the waterfront, eat my pb & j and read a little. Then I remembered I was right in front of the movie theater and there are some girly movies I want to see. So I parked my bike in front of the theater and popped in to see what was playing. I was just in time to see "Management" with Jennifer Aniston! Ryan would have hated it but I thought it was pretty good and a great way to spend a chilly afternoon and since I brought my lunch, I just ate it in the movie! After the movie, I thought I would just continue through Georgetown about a mile or two to the Metro and ride back home, but then I thought, no! I'm gonna go for it! So, I pedaled seven miles back to Bethesda! It took about an hour to get back! I was tired, it was a mild incline, and it was chillier than when I left, but it felt soooooo good to push myself! I really wanted to get Haagen Dazs when I got back to Bethesda as a reward for my hard work, but I talked myself out of it! It would have blown my whole workout! So, I waited til I got home to make a chocolate Weight Watchers smoothie with cherries in it. Man I love those smoothies! It was a way better for me reward! My bike had it's inaugural ride and has the dirt splatters to prove it! Here are some pictures from my adventure today:

Just in case!





Bliss!

Sweet New Stuff!

Tuesday is my 27th birthday and I'm celebrating with some sweet new stuff!! First new thing:

My new do!


I had to go short this summer! Last summer was ridiculous trying to manage my wavy hair in the crazy swampy humidity that takes over DC!


The next sweet new thing is the best thing! My birthday gift from Ryan!! I've been begging for this for years!! My sweet new bike!


It's cute and comfy like a beach cruiser and good for both streets and trails!!


And, yes, ADPi's, it's a Diamond!! So I know it will treat me well!!

Ryan is so awesome for getting me such a great gift!! He also set the code on my lock, attached the bell, attached the kick stand, an took pictures of me in different helmets at the store so I could make sure I got the cutest one!

I am so excited to get to trail riding!! Hopefully he'll have a bike by next weekend so we can ride to a good fishing spot, have a nice Memorial Day picnic, and he can catch some fish while I pretend to fish and read a book.

Now it needs to not rain so I can ride!

New Blog Name

There's no real reason for the name change! I just think this rolls off the tongue better for future publications and whatnot...

I love reading about all of you! Thanks for continuing to follow along on our journey!