Running Running, As Fast As We Can

I am goal oriented.  What that means is, I am unable to accomplish much without an end goal in mind.  I have always enjoyed running (well, jogging because I am so slow), so I recently set a goal to reduce my min/mile by 2 mins before my next half marathon in October.  Lucky for me, I have a coworker who is my size and runs 8 min/mi, so she's living proof that my goal can be accomplished (I always used the excuse that I had a shorter stride, so I couldn't run any faster), especially because I just want to get down to 9:30 min/mi, haha.  Running with speedy Gonzalez helps because it forces me to try, key word try, to keep up with her.  We've been running the UCSD campus loop twice a week which is an amazing 4 mile run.  Here's the breakdown:

A. This is where we start our run.  Starting from here gives us another .25 miles.

B. My coworker "forces" me to run up this as a warm up. It is uphill at a 45 degree angle and I'm usually saying "I hate (love) you" the whole way up because it's not even where the official loop starts yet and I'm already getting tired.

C. This is where I really hate my life because it is a steep uphill battle for about 1/3 of a mile all the while my coworker continues to run like the energizer bunny.

D. This is where I do a halfpoint check on my breathing - if I'm breathing hard, then I know I'm running at a good pace; if I'm not panting at all, I know I've been slacking.

E. This is where I am singing "happy happy joy joy" in my head because it is all downhill from here!  I get to trick myself by telling myself that I'm running faster, but we all know it's because the downward angle is pushing me forward.

F. This is where we run by the canyon so there is always a breeze to cool us off.  It's my favorite part of the loop.

G. This is where we high-five each other and begin our walk back to our hotel while talking about what we're going to stuff our faces with for dinner.

Short Term Memory Rocks!

No, I refuse to believe that it is because of old age.  Although, this forgetfulness problem seems to worsen with each passing year.  Hmm...

• I get lost over the course of <10 miles going to and from a location I have been to more than three times because I can't remember whether I should turn left or right, on this street or that.  Just happened this morning actually and ended up on a half hour detour.
• During introductions, once you say your name, I will turn around and forget it.  Trust me, it's not personal.  Case in point, just this week:
• Me: Hi!  I'm Sherly.  Nice to meet you!
• Person: Um, hi, I'm _ _ _ _ _."
• Friend: You guys have met before!
• Me: Oh, we have?  I don't remember ever meeting you!
• Person: That's messed up!
• Me: Oops.  I remember now!  You're dating Linda!
• Person: No, Anita.
• Me: Oops.  But I was close, right?
• I'll tell someone about a movie I saw to which the other person will respond "I saw that with you, you ding dong."
• My old friends constantly bring up embarrasing or humiliating stories about me that I have NO recollection of e.g., apparently I got vocally got mad at an old lady who made a racist comment to my friend and I at TGIFs in college (I blame that one on selective memory)
• I'll totally be passionate about a story I'm telling and be expecting a "wow!" or "oh my!" type of response from my listener(s), but I usually get the "that's nice" response because they've already heard my story more than once...from me...
• This IM chat today with SP triggered this post and confirmed (as if there was ever any doubt) that I definitely do not have an elephant brain:
• Me (referring to when I received a gift card from a Partner): a long time ago when we were in SF together (Partner and I)
• SP: yes i remember that you fool.  i was in sf then.
• Me: LOL  you were?  no you weren't!  howcome i never saw you????
• SP: we met three times dumbass
• Me: LOL WE DID?
• SP: no wonder you think we haven't kept in touch in a while. you have the memory of a goldfish.

So the next time I forget something important or unimportant for that matter about you, it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  xoxo

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I cannot believe that we are already in March.  Every single day seems to fly by so quickly, especially on the weekends!  2010 has been awesome so far, and there's so much more to look forward to.  Now that my schedule is a little bit more settled (no more Chicago for a while - whew!), here's what I've been up to!

Spent a weekend in Chicago.  Delicious food + Awesome company + Visiting new places = An amazing weekend!

View of the skyline from Museum Park

With T-Rex "Sue" at the Field Museum

At the famous bean

Met up with the soon-to-be Lee's at Din Tai Fung

Can't wait for their wedding in April!

I tagged along with singindork888 for his performance at the Acoustic Shuffle event in Torrance. It was so amazing to watch a bunch of talented young musicians do their thing. These guys were able to play any song on command and then improvise to make the song sound even more amazing!

G performed an original song and at the last minute, the two ukelele guys decided they wanted to play along with him after hearing it for the first time.  Talk about talent!

I finally got a chance to visit my good friend and her baby girl Lexi. I absolutely love this little girl and have known her ever since she was 1 week old.  I try to see her a few times a year, and since the last time I saw her, she has grown up so much!  She has the sweetest personality, which I'm sure she inherited from her Mommy.

 

Memorable Moments Captured

The guy's version is so funny.  Boys are so dumb.  =P

Happy Anniversary D Dot!

Each year, February 14th is more than just Valentine's Day.  And this year, it was more than Chinese New Year too!  This day marked my ninth year with Deloitte.  Yes, ninth year.  Who said I was commitment phobic?  =)  Looking back, I never thought I would last this long, but the lifestyle and experiences that comes with consulting, however painful it may seem at times, has kept my interest for longer than expected. 

One question that I like to ask when interviewing potential hires is "What is it about Deloitte that interests you?"  Without fail, the candidates will answer "The people" and I couldn't agree more.  Every project I've joined, I have met amazing people from all over the world who make being away from home or not having a life outside of work that much more bearable.  So without further ado, here are the folks (of whom I have pictures with) who have brought so much happiness into my life, who have been there for me through thick and thin, and though some are no longer with the firm, have become my life long friends.  It's been a great 9 years!

 

And last but not least...You are missed.