note to self...

wag na wag, na wag na wag, na ulit maglalasing.


EVER!!!


i didn't like it when i was 18, i didn't like it when i was 24, and now that i'm 28, i asked myself again (while still lasheeeeeng), 'why, oh why, oh why, would i ever, ever, ever subject myself to a torture like this????'


sober na ako by the way. =)

be nice to me...

i gave blood today!

i am a blood donor virgin no more.

this week is life safety week at our building and one of the activities was donating blood. the blood centers of the pacific where there to accept blood donations so i signed up to donate. it's for a good cause and it doesn't me cost a dime, so why not?

i ate a good lunch because i've been told that skipping a meal or donating blood on an empty stomach will make you pass out. so ron and i shared a patty melt from taylor's and some onion rings. delish!

after i filled out a long form and they asked a series of questions about the time i've spent out of the country in the last 12 months (where and how long ), i was set to donate blood. i sucked up any anxiety i had and told myself, 'there's a first time for everything!' takot kasi ako sa dugo. so this is a big step for me. so i lay on the bed and donated blood. i felt like my time took longer that the other donors...yun pala i had to squeeze the ball the gave me every few seconds to encourage blood flow.

after donating, they give you snacks and you have to stay in the facility for at least 15 minutes, just in case you pass out. i was feelin' good. feelin' cocky. in my head i was saying, 'yes! hindi ako hinimatay!' so i was eating peanuts, drinking water, waiting for my 15 minutes to be up. when out of the blue, i started feeling weird, the room started to get dark and i felt like i was spinning. there was a lady sitting next to me and i said, 'uhm, i think i need to lie down.' she stood up immediately and informed the nurse. the nurse told me to move my legs a little while i was lying down so blood will continue to circulate. so much for my confidence! after two minutes, i sat back up feeling much better. the nurse asked my how come i knew what to do when i get that feeling...i told her, 'it always happens to me when i accidentally cut myself and the wound starts to bleed.' so sanay na ako!

the needle is bigger than your vaccination needle. it is a bit painful and uncomfortable, the small wound is still bleeding so i have to keep it covered maybe until tomorrow. i think it will bruise, too. i wont forget the feeling of that warm blood flowing through the tube down to the bag below, the needle pulsating with the flow. freaky!

i will donate blood again. the nurse said that the blood volume with be replenished by the body in about 5 days, but the red blood cell levels wont be the same until after 55 days or so which means no donating for at least that long...not that i'm in a rush to do this all over again. i'll definitely try my best to donate every year.

i really feel this is something worth doing. i know deep inside we all want to do something good for others and i think this is one of the easiest ways to reach out and save a life.

thirteen point one miles

Listed on my mind as one of the things I would like to accomplish in my life is to run a marathon. With my flat feet and lack of enthusiasm for running, I myself, am surprised that this thing made it on my list at all.

Just a month ago, I started to jog 3 to 4 times a week. With each mile that I run, i learn to bear with the pain that comes with flat feet and revel in having run 2 or 3 miles. My, my, my?! Am I actually enjoying my runs?! I would still rather play with michelle or watch tv but I know that the life of a couch potato doesn’t usually last very long. obesity is one of the biggest problems in america and heart disease is the number 1 killer among women. our family history with both of these makes me a likely candidate but i want to beat my genes and win! I want to live a long, healthy life for my family. It wont happen unless I make choices right now, and I have chosen to run to get fit.

running has become more about being healthy than losing weight. i've only lost maybe 2 lbs but with each run, i feel less bilbil shaking with every hard step. plus i've been eating healthier - always fruits for breakfast, a sensible lunch and dinner. of course i still indulge in snacks in between (lately it's been ding dong from pi), but i no longer feel guilty about them. i don't weigh myself constantly like i used to and my clothes are starting to feel/look better on me. the release of endorphines are working! i just hope my feet can keep up with my excitement!

Now back to the marathon dream. I started to talk to my coworkers about working out and amy, an unlikely marathon runner herself, talked me into joining her for the nike women’s marathon in October. I have two options: a full marathon (all 26.2 miles) or the half marathon (you do that math!). of course, I wont be able to do the full thing. Come on! I’m a dreamer, but I’m not crazy! In the beginning I said, ‘run a marathon.’ I didn’t say, a full marathon, so this one counts. I’ve been thinking about this over the last couple of days and I’m actually getting excited about the idea. Add to that the fact that you get a Tiffany necklace at the end of the race. What woman wouldn’t love a free necklace from Tiffany’s? I would run that marathon (my half of it) to get that darn necklace! =) I might be crawling by race’s end, but we'll find that one out in october, IF i actually do run. I already imagine Paul and Michelle at the end of the race, cheering me on, beaming with pride that this once lazy bum has completed her first (of many?) marathon. Yey! I’m already grinning from ear to ear just thinking about it.

So before I really start training for this, I’m going to see my doctor, get a physical exam and get my feet checked. i have to be sure that my body will be able to survive this challenge. Having flat feet is not easy. Running becomes painful after only a few minutes. My feet hurt, then my knees, then my back—and I’m not exaggerating! In order to be in the best running condition I could ever be, the doctor is my first stop, then a trainer - which is provided if you sign up to run the marathon.

i have maybe a few more weeks to think about this and then decide. the 2008 marathon isn't open for registration at this time, but amy will let me know as soon as it does. this is her 3rd nike marathon (way to go amy!), and now maybe my first. wow! am i really going to do this? can i really do this?! let's see what happens. =)

*i just visited the website right now and i read that because of the overwhelming success of last year's marathon (they sold out in 3 days), they are going to do a random drawing for participants. i have to register between march 4 and march 18. Random drawing results will be posted on the Nike Women’s Marathon website on April 1st. yikes! i better decide soon!*