I'm jazzed to announce that I'm beyond ready for the next 5K! I went to Planet Fitness with Annie for the first run of 2015, and I'm ecstatic to declare that I ran 3.1 miles in 24 minutes! That makes my pace approximately 8 minutes per mile!! Normally, I walk about 6-8 miles a day delivering the mail, and naturally, that aids my stamina. However, 3.1 miles in 24 minutes is my baseline, and call me nuts, but I'm sure I can close in on the 20 minute mark by the summer.
My first 5K will be in Philadelphia on March 1st for the Philadelphia Flower Show. Not only will I be able to enjoy a run, but we'll also get tickets to the show! It also doesn't hurt that there's a post-5k run party with a free beer! Huzzah!!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Energy Drinks
Hmmm, a new lesson in life: don't underestimate Monster Energy drinks. I had my first energy drink at around 7:40 PM right before band practice that started at 8:00. I sipped on that bitch for about two hours until practice ended at 10:00. I drank another energy drink on the way back home from Union. I suppose I wanted to ensure that I wouldn't doze off on the way back home. In case you were wondering, the trip from Union to Philadelphia is roughly about ninety minutes. I arrived home at about midnight. It's currently 12:45AM, and I'm wide-the-fuck awake. I'm convinced I'm not going to doze off for another week or so. The silver lining in this situation: it's great to know those effective energy drinks work.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Some concerns
I wonder if the issue of respect will prove to be any sort of detrimental occurrence at the work place. I was raised by "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all." However, at work, this proves to be quite contrary to what others were taught.
I'm not too crazy about how whenever a regular carrier is gone, regardless of how strong or poor of a work ethic that carrier has, the other guys at work would never fail to criticize that person. I just feel that this would make me more secretive and more quiet of a person if I knew that I would be talked about as if I were a stinky, guilty street dog out on the town in search of a bite to eat.
What is the line between defending one's self and not fueling the fire of another's desire to provoke? How important is it to maintain one's reputation when living in a den of gossip? If you live in a village of fools, is salvaging the perception others hold of your reputation as crucial as bolstering the reality of said character?
I live day-to-day with a clear conscience; should I really get worked up over silliness at the workplace?
I'm not too crazy about how whenever a regular carrier is gone, regardless of how strong or poor of a work ethic that carrier has, the other guys at work would never fail to criticize that person. I just feel that this would make me more secretive and more quiet of a person if I knew that I would be talked about as if I were a stinky, guilty street dog out on the town in search of a bite to eat.
What is the line between defending one's self and not fueling the fire of another's desire to provoke? How important is it to maintain one's reputation when living in a den of gossip? If you live in a village of fools, is salvaging the perception others hold of your reputation as crucial as bolstering the reality of said character?
I live day-to-day with a clear conscience; should I really get worked up over silliness at the workplace?
Friday, January 30, 2015
Update
Well, it's 2015.
Yup.
I'm narrowing down destinations for my trip in March. So far, it looks like Key West is the leader with a California in a close second. I think I'll have more of an opportunity to enjoy my trip in Key West than California because CA would take two days just to get there! My plan is to bring my camping gear and bike in my car, and bike my ass off in Key West while enjoying spots to swim and snack. Sounds fairly simple, right? Wish me luck!
Yup.
I'm narrowing down destinations for my trip in March. So far, it looks like Key West is the leader with a California in a close second. I think I'll have more of an opportunity to enjoy my trip in Key West than California because CA would take two days just to get there! My plan is to bring my camping gear and bike in my car, and bike my ass off in Key West while enjoying spots to swim and snack. Sounds fairly simple, right? Wish me luck!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Man-task #47: Change your vehicle's oil (Completed!)
I'm ecstatic to announce that I just changed my 2010 Toyota Corolla's oil! It's been on my mind for the past ten years, and finally, I feel successful in my endeavor to become a little more independent from purchasing services that I can do myself!
Posted Notes: The Cold
One of my biggest fears about delivering mail in the natural elements is turning into a Rob-sicle while out in the freezing cold. I hate cold weather. I can't stand it. As a tropical individual, I gladly take the hot, steamy days of 95-plus degree weather while a smile emerges as I make my appointed arounds. However, now that I'm slowly experiencing the frigid mornings, I've got to take some more precaution with what I wear and how I deal with the frosty tips of grass.
Here are some tips I've been lucky to learn in my time as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service:
First and foremost, keep your feet dry and warm! Nothing will slow you down faster than soggy boots and frozen toes. On a route I covered, the temperature hovered over the freezing mark while a mixture of slushy rain steadily fell all day. Sneaky gangs of puddles pounced on unfortunate, unsuspecting tootsies all over. Hopping out of the truck in my "waterproof" hiking boots, which in all honesty had been waterproof for two years, I splooshed directly into a dismal day: not even 10AM, and my feet were soaked through and through. Numb, drenched, and frozen, I sincerely believed my toes would have to be amputated for being exposed to the frigid elements for 10 hours straight lol. I am only slightly dramatic...Ever since that day, if a speckle of drizzle loomed in the horizon for next week's forecast, my rubber boots dashed onto my feet yesterday! Never again will I suffer.
Invest in wardrobe that will protect you, including lightweight rubber boots/shoes, work gloves, windbreaker jacket and fleece sweater. Furthermore, don't layer up TOO much because your body heat will render you a dreaded sweat monster, and you'd still won't escape being wet. Just like with the rain, it's important to pretend it's not cold and deliver the mail as quickly (and safely) as possible. If you've got rubber, concrete blocks weighing you down, you not only would do yourself (and knees) some harm, but you'd also come back later than anticipated. Keep moving those feet, one in front of the other, and before you know it, you're hitting your last clock ring on the way out of the door.
Finally, heed the advice of fellow carriers. At first, I thought some of the regular carriers were arrogant, macho men. Hell, some are, who am I kidding? As I walked into the Post office wrapped up from head to toe in layers, including a red wool scarf exposing nothing but my glasses, one regular of 20 years approached me.
"You're wearing all that?! What are you going to do when it really gets cold?" said Mike the Mailman, with nothing more than a fleece and postal blue shorts on a chilly, 34-degree morning.
Many of the regular carriers have worked through hundreds of frozen days, so at first, it may seem like they're arrogant when the machismo comes out, but that's not the case. They've been through the tough days, the blizzards, the ice storms, etc. They've walked on the black asphalt so cold, it turned white. They've trudged through the banks of snow for days, even weeks, and have come out fine.
Here are some tips I've been lucky to learn in my time as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service:
First and foremost, keep your feet dry and warm! Nothing will slow you down faster than soggy boots and frozen toes. On a route I covered, the temperature hovered over the freezing mark while a mixture of slushy rain steadily fell all day. Sneaky gangs of puddles pounced on unfortunate, unsuspecting tootsies all over. Hopping out of the truck in my "waterproof" hiking boots, which in all honesty had been waterproof for two years, I splooshed directly into a dismal day: not even 10AM, and my feet were soaked through and through. Numb, drenched, and frozen, I sincerely believed my toes would have to be amputated for being exposed to the frigid elements for 10 hours straight lol. I am only slightly dramatic...Ever since that day, if a speckle of drizzle loomed in the horizon for next week's forecast, my rubber boots dashed onto my feet yesterday! Never again will I suffer.
Invest in wardrobe that will protect you, including lightweight rubber boots/shoes, work gloves, windbreaker jacket and fleece sweater. Furthermore, don't layer up TOO much because your body heat will render you a dreaded sweat monster, and you'd still won't escape being wet. Just like with the rain, it's important to pretend it's not cold and deliver the mail as quickly (and safely) as possible. If you've got rubber, concrete blocks weighing you down, you not only would do yourself (and knees) some harm, but you'd also come back later than anticipated. Keep moving those feet, one in front of the other, and before you know it, you're hitting your last clock ring on the way out of the door.
Finally, heed the advice of fellow carriers. At first, I thought some of the regular carriers were arrogant, macho men. Hell, some are, who am I kidding? As I walked into the Post office wrapped up from head to toe in layers, including a red wool scarf exposing nothing but my glasses, one regular of 20 years approached me.
"You're wearing all that?! What are you going to do when it really gets cold?" said Mike the Mailman, with nothing more than a fleece and postal blue shorts on a chilly, 34-degree morning.
Many of the regular carriers have worked through hundreds of frozen days, so at first, it may seem like they're arrogant when the machismo comes out, but that's not the case. They've been through the tough days, the blizzards, the ice storms, etc. They've walked on the black asphalt so cold, it turned white. They've trudged through the banks of snow for days, even weeks, and have come out fine.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Posted notes: The rain
"Why is my mail wet?" you ask? It's raining. Yup, the mail gets wet when it rains.
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