Author: Trish

Workout Week #6

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This Week’s Goal:  15 minutes at least 5 times a week.  

GOAL MET

Workout Notes

Can I just stop to bask in the pride of doing this workout thing for SIX WEEKS?  That’s incredible.  I guess making my goals public really was helpful in keeping me accountable!  Thank you to everyone who has commented and kept me excited.

Over the last six weeks, I’ve realized that boredom is my biggest struggle.  I hate doing the same thing day in and day out.  I’ve found a lot of different apps and YouTube videos to keep me interested, and this week I found something else:  30-Day Challenges!   Continue reading →

A New Personality Inventory: The Birkman

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My sending organization made me take a 45-minute long personality inventory last week, and today a man walked me through the results.  The Birkman stands apart from Myers-Briggs or the Enneagram because it focuses mainly on the difference between how a person acts, and how they want other people to act toward them.

This is useful in group situations, because most of the time we mirror each other.  If I chat for a while before getting to the real issue, chances are you will do the same.  Generally, that’s fine, and people want to be treated the way they treat others.  But occasionally, the way you interact with the world is NOT the way you want the world to interact with you.  That’s totally okay, but it can be confusing (both for you and for the people working with you).  The Birkman tries to erase that confusion so that you can pre-emptively inform someone:  “Hey, I like to chat a while, but I’d really prefer if you just got straight to the point with me.  Thanks!”   Continue reading →

Letters Between Friends: A NEW PHASE

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LettersBtwnFriends

Tricia:  Thursday is universally recognized as Lindsay/Tricia Day, and since this is the last Thursday we can spend together in person for a whole year, we spent today at Panera eating, talking, and blogging!

Lindsay: Initially we planned to start this whole blog today! Like the first Thursday before Tricia leaves, but we both got WAY too excited and had to start earlier.  I mean we HAD to.

Tricia:  As fun as it has been to write to each other while living in the same city, I’m really excited about this new phase of Letters Between Friends.  I am always desperate for attention, and I am super excited about knowing that every two weeks, Lindsay HAS to write to me.  It’s a guaranteed way to avoid at least a little bit of loneliness.

Lindsay: And I can’t wait for her to go!  Now Lindsay….that’s a little rude. But we all know I live vicariously through Tricia and I need some adventure even if it’s vicarious.  I’m also super thrilled to see God do crazy things in the lives of people I love, so you know I’m sad but happy to see you go.

Tricia:  I wish I could shrink you and put you in my suitcase!  I’m glad you’re going to keep me accountable, because now I’ll think, “Is my life exciting enough for Lindsay?  No??  I better go jump off a cliff (into water).”  Just kidding, I’ll never do that, that sounds terrifying.

Lindsay: Funny you’re not the first person to say that!  AND if there is a cliff {with water underneath} I’m jumping and taking you with me.

As you can all see we are ready for new adventures in both Peoria and Athens. One of the best parts of our friendship is how we can go our own ways for a while, keep each other encouraged, and then come back together no matter what’s happened.  (Lindsay: And I get to visit you someplace CRAZY!  Tricia:  You’d better.)

So here’s to the next phase of LBF (that means Letters Between Friends).  May you all enjoy our victories and sadnesses, our new crushes and annoying people, our adventures and our couches.  Because honestly we are not even doing this for you… We just hope you are entertained.  (Lindsay: we mean that in the nicest way possible. Tricia: Yea. Tricia: THAT WAS YOU LINDSAY STOP SPEAKING FOR ME….but yeah.)

Happy Thursday!

Love,

Tricia & Lindsay

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The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

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Okay, so in my review of The Son of Neptune, I said The Mark of Athena was my favorite of the Heroes of Olympus series, and that’s not quite true.  The end of this book is phenomenal, but I found the first half to be a bit slow.  It’s fun to have the seven demigods together, and I liked the story with Narcissus and Echo, but mostly I couldn’t wait for them to leave the United States.  Once they did, the real fun began!

Annabeth is the center of this story, and rightfully so, since she’s been absent throughout the previous two books.  I’m so in love with her character, and how her heroism is based on intelligence instead of brute force.  Her plot line seeking the Athena Parthenos and outwitting Arachne is so good!  If only Riordan would create an entire series from her point of view.  Or a girl in general!  He’s really very good at writing from a female perspective, so I’m anxiously awaiting the…hm…Chinese mythology starring a girl demigod?  Bring it, Riordan!

The rest of the characters are interesting, and it’s always fun to see how they interact with each other in new ways.  But for me, The Mark of Athena is all about Annabeth, so this review will be the same.  Continue reading →

I’m Packed!

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There’s nothing I like more than packing and planning ahead, so of course three days before I’m due to fly out, I’ve got my suitcases filled and stacked by the doorway.  They were even under 50 lbs on my first try!

When I tell people I’ve got to pack a year’s worth of possessions into two suitcases, most people furrow their brows and look sad for me.  They are so wrong!  I LOVE IT.  I love moving and having the opportunity to choose the things I really like, abandoning everything else.  I love leaving holes in my possessions, looking forward to the things I’ll buy in Greece (shampoo and boots).  I love the feeling of knowing that I can fit my life into two suitcases, a backpack, and a computer bag.  It makes me feel free.   Continue reading →

#same pt. 2

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Here are some more tumblr posts that made me laugh/cringe and whisper “#same.”

 

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cleromancy
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ezthetic

 

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CHAINS

 

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the game of scones

 

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Northern Boys Love Gravy

 

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Packing for a Year in Greece: Entertainment

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Based on this blog, it should be obvious that I take entertainment very seriously.  Ingesting stories is how I grow and/or stay alive.  So when it comes to preparing to move to Greece, the majority of my planning has revolved around books and media.

The one problem?  I have to pack a year’s worth of possessions into two suitcases and a backpack.  While I would LIKE to take two suitcases full of books, even I know that is impractical.  So I’ve improvised.   Continue reading →

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

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Heroes_of_Olympus_-_The_Son_of_NeptuneI’ve loved rereading the Heroes of Olympus series all at once.  Back when I was waiting for a new book year-to-year, I don’t think I was very impressed by Son of Neptune.  It took me a long time to adjust to Hazel and Frank, because I’m always skeptical of new characters introduced in a world I already love.  But after reading the series to completion, I really enjoyed going back and meeting them again, this time with fondness.

Hazel is far cooler than I remember giving her credit for.  I also really appreciate that her secret is exposed quickly.  In The Lost Hero, I remember being annoyed at Piper and Leo’s drawn out internal struggles.  Finally, a character who shares what’s wrong with her, trusts that her friends will still be her friends, and continues on with the quest despite valid concerns as to what will happen to her.  She’s got such a healthy outlook on the world.   Continue reading →

Sunday Summary #13: What’s on the Internet

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Articles

1|  More people crying over how Rey in The Force Awakens is their girlhood dreams come true!

2|  The World of Wanderlust girls have made a great list of mistakes solo travelers too often make.  While they unfortunately (and necessarily) include far too many female-safety tips (WHY CAN’T MEN JUST RESPECT WOMEN’S AUTONOMY AND NOT BE POTENTIAL RAPISTS) there’s a lot here that’s really useful!

3|  The Mary Sue wrote a phenomenal article about accusations that Marvel’s Jessica Jones is sexist toward men by focusing too much on women…when actually there is an exactly equal ratio of female/male characters.  Hm.

4|  WOW.  Derek Webb, one of my favorite singers in high school, wrote a strong, hard, beautiful confession of his adultery and responsibility in breaking up his marriage.  His faith is everything mine is: doubtful and hopeful.  I’m so glad he is continuing to share his soul with us so that we can grow from his example.

Videos

1|  This tiny girl is every Star Wars nerd.

2|  Hahahaha, this video is GOLD.

3|  WOW.  I don’t know why this exists or what Gypsy of the Year 2015 is, but some people performed Hamilton’s “Wait For It” with a background of news headlines from 2015: discrimination, hate crimes, terrorism…culminating in “Forgiveness – can you imagine?”

Workout Week #5

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Progress Report

By the Number

I met my goal of doing more than one workout more often than not!  There wasn’t a lot of consistency, but that’s for next week.

By My Feelings

It was SO HARD to get started after taking off last week for Christmas.  I skipped Saturday because “Well, it won’t be on the calendar week,” and then I skipped Sunday because, “I kind of tend to skip Sundays.”

But once I gave in on Monday and got back to eating smaller portions and remembering how short a 7 Minute Workout actually is….and happily realizing I didn’t lose my pushup progress…I was back!  (Except for Thursday, which was New Year’s Eve and another gimme).

Continue reading →