Fit & Fabulous

One of my ongoing resolutions is to become fitter, stronger, more flexible, ya know, just in better shape.  Cliché for the New Year, huh?  I know I'm not overweight, far from it, but I definitely could use some tightening up.  I want to walk down the street and have people oogle over how well I take care of my body.  I want to be able to compete with the boys.  I want to feel 100% confident in everything I wear.

I already eat fairly healthy, but now that I'm back in my Tucson home, and not road trippin it and eating fast food every other day, I can really start eating clean and hittin the gym on every day off from water polo.  Even though I'm not taking a "spring break" trip, I am taking a trip back to the mid-west this summer where I'll see childhood friends I haven't seen in over 5 years, and I want them to be surprised by my fitness! That's the goal I'm keeping in mind.

So much I want to do, so little time!

I've been feeling like this a lot lately! I crave to learn about so much, and I feel as though I'm running out of time. Silly, huh? Since I'm only almost 23. I just look around and yearn to learn more about my surroundings.

Right now I'd like to know more about:
1. How things work
2. Politics and government
3. Soil
4. Food safety
5. Economics
6. Cooking and baking
7. How my brain works
8. Fundraising
9. Money
10. Our environment
11. Other cultures
12. Traveling
13. Getting buff and healthy
14. Healthy foods

Random list, eh? That's where my mind wanders to.

Senses to Memories

It's amazing how our five senses have such an incredible impact on memories.  A simple whiff of something or a song or a taste can immediately transport you to a memory from years ago or from yesterday.  I have a love/hate feeling about this sensation of senses and memories.  Here's why.

When I smell fresh cut grass, it brings me back to being a kid at my grandma and grandpa's house with their huge yard and pristine cut putting green near the wood line. It brings me back to water fights with my cousins and cooking bratwursts on the little grill on the sidewalk.  It brings me back to fresh baked bread with butter and homemade strawberry jam.  I absolutely love when my senses take me back to memories like these ones from my childhood.

Anyway, our brain is pretty cool to use our senses to affect us so dramatically, by way of drudging up old memories, both good and bad.

Still Holding On.

I find myself holding on to the past far more often than I'd care to.  

Why do people cling to people or things, even when they know they are so much better off without those people or things? Is it fear that something better won't come along? Or maybe because they don't feel worthy of anything better? I'm truly not sure. 

The only thing I am sure of is that I need to LET IT GO.

change of plans aren't always a bad thing.

truth.

Arizona livin'

This morning, it was a "cool" 73º so I took full advantage of it and enjoyed my coffee, bagel, and a new book on the patio, watching the dogs chase lizards and flies.

I looked around and realized how lucky I am to be here.  So here's a "thankful to be in Arizona" list...

1. I'm getting a degree in Agricultural Economics and graduating 2 years earlier than planned.
2. I've made more, and better friends living here for 7 weeks, than I did in my first 4 years of college elsewhere.  The water polo girls are my second family and I feel like I've known a lot of them for years, not just 7 weeks. 
3. I live with my cousin and her big black lab Finley and I wouldn't have it any other way.  This is the first year in college that I love my roommate and my living situation.
4. Everyone here calls me Abs, and it makes me extreeeeemely happy. :)
5. I'm getting (almost) all good grades in my classes.  
6. Economics is finally clicking for me, which is evident through my 95% grade in my Agricultural Economics class this semester.  I shouldn't be surprised, seeing as this is my 5th Ag-Econ class over the past 5 years. 
7. Even though I don't have straight A's at the moment, all my grades in every class are above the class average, which I'll take as a success. 

Circadian Rhythm

Our internal clock, or circadian rhythm, is a wonderful, interesting concept.

Yesterday afternoon, I was feeling so exhausted so I laid down to read for a little bit and set my alarm to get up for class, just in case I fell asleep. Low and behold, I fell asleep for almost an hour and when I awoke for my 4pm class at 3:30, instead of 3:15 like I had set my alarm for, I freaked out, but then realized how cool it was that my internal clock woke me up, or so I think!

How does our body know when we should wake and sleep?  Well, it's based on the rotation of the Earth and usually the light/dark cycle of day and night. But, how does it work during the day, when we nap? I have no idea. But I think it's pretty great.