Trying out my wetsuit

This morning I went for my first OWS (open water swim) in my wetsuit. I've done two of these swims before without a wetsuit during the heatwave a few months ago. Then somebody said there are stingrays and jellyfish in the water, and the weather got rather cold, so the need for a wetsuit arose. Here are some things i've learned/noticed/want to share with you guys:

1. Wetsuits are a pain in the butt to get on. I already made two small tears in there because of my nails. Why are these expensive things so damn fragile?? And then they feel so tight and constricted. I get it, I get it, pull the material up, bla bla bla. You know how hard it is to get a wetsuit over my butt? Damn hard! It's a work out putting it on! Hmpf!

2. No matter how skinny somebody is, they will still look at least 10 lbs heavier in a wetsuit. And it will look like you have a gut, even though you may not. Attractive huh?

3. The water was freezing cold to me. Some lady said it was 64 degrees, but cold is cold. The wetsuit kept my body warm, but my face and hands were suffering for the first 10 minutes or so.

4. Green water is scary. Green water where you can't see the bottom, is even scarier. Surely there must be scary looking eels, fishes, and sharks out there, waiting to prey on this orca like thing splashing around in the water.

5. Wetsuits make you more buoyant. I was seriously floating and it just felt weird. I'm so used to feeling the water glide around me, to feeling free and fish-like. I guess I have to get used to this feeling of feeling like a marshmallow in the water.

6. I finally did get into a groove and it felt good.

7. Until I got ahead of my friend. And the people on the dock weren't there anymore. And all I could think of was the water and all the sea creatures and how they're after me. Then I swam like a bat out of hell back to the dock, launched myself out of the water, and was so dizzy I almost fell.

I bought earplugs but forgot to wear them. I hope that helps with the dizziness and disoriented feeling I experienced when I got out of the water. I can't imagine having to get on my bike feeling like that. Overall, i'm quite happy with my wetsuit since it keeps me warm and it does make swimming kind of effortless (but my arms were quite tired after this 1/2 mile swim). I just have to swim more, to be honest, i've only been in the water about 5 times this whole year. I really need to get over my fear of sharks and other scary things lurking in the water. Does anybody have any advice?

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Griffith Observatory

Decided to drive up here on a lazy Sunday afternoon...despite the crowds, it was quite serene. And the views? They were simply amazing. I just can't get enough. Next time I come up here, i'd like to ride my bike up. Sorry, too lazy to Photoshop the pictures!

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Those happy moments...

Via

I used to have much nicer handwriting but my hand grew quite tired from writing that...fail. 

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November Goals

It's November already! The months are just flying by (and i'm just getting older). I posted a recap on my October goals yesterday. Overall I think I did pretty well! Today it's time to set some new goals for the month. They're a bit long, i'm just warning you in advance!
 

1. Remind my supervisor that I want to work on the other accounts. We've been talking about this since the spring, and so far, nothing has materialized!! So many things have just gotten in the way of it - the head guy at the Brentwood office got promoted and he had to move to New York. So, for a while, there was a power vacuum and nobody was making decisions, and he was too busy getting himself and his family settled in New York and dealing with his new responsibilities. Then, my supervisor's boss resigned, which also affected things. Finally one of the team members in Brentwood was promoted and she now makes decisions - and I spoke to her and there is definitely a need for me to help out with the other accounts - except...they just moved from Brentwood to Culver City, and they're trying to figure out the whole office situation. Doesn't it seem like something just keeps getting in the way??

2. Send out my new and updated resume. I worked hard on this, and countless friends helped me along the way. I've had people in Europe, Asia, and here in the US look at it. The benefits of being an international :) I just want to see what's out there, and I want to keep my options open. My main goal is to advance within my company, but if things keep going the way they are (no raise due to recession (I am so sick of hearing this!), I need new challenges and my boss tells me: well, find something you'd like to do...to which I reply...work on the other accounts...because that's the only thing I can do at this moment since client is cutting costs all the time, and yet nothing happens) then it's better for me to start looking while I still have a job.

3. Participate in a 10K! - I am signed up for a Turkey Trot. Along with this comes the goal of running at least 3 times a week. Kind of difficult since i've been sidelined by being sick in October, and today my tonsils feel a bit swollen, so i'm taking it easy, even though i'm supposed to be running and swimming today!

4. Sign up for the Surf City half marathon - this takes place in February but it fills up pretty fast. Cost: $85 for the half.

5. Join a new gym and swim 3 times a week - I am joining TriFit. With my LA Tri Club membership, the initiation and first month's fees are waived! Yay for that! Also, my company reimburses me $475 after 100 visits (or after i've paid $475 in membership dues). This gym will cost me $78/month, as opposed to Equinox' $130/month.

6. Pick a tri that I want to participate in. When I tell people that i'm training for a tri, they automatically ask: which one? To which I reply rather sheepishly...umm....some sprint tri's in the summer of 2010. It's difficult when the 2010 schedule hasn't been posted yet! Plus i'm only aware of a few. Yet again, way to go me for becoming interested in triathlons during the off season. Hey, it's all about building up those base miles.

7. Watch that restaurant budget again. It's difficult for me to say: no eating out. So I will make a conscious effort to bring lunch to work 4/5 days a week. Week nights and weekends don't really pose a threat because I prefer to cook my own food. And after a sweaty work-out, I just prefer to go home and take a shower, rather than meet friends for dinner. My problem is that I can't eat something two days in a row. And i'm addicted to the Whole Foods salad bar...

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October Goals revisited

 Let's see what I can check off, shall we?

1. Participate in volunteer work - completed. Went to the LA Food Bank on 10/17 and spent time packing bags with canned pears. I don't think I can ever work an assembly line. It is just way too monotonous. I was also a bit disappointed that I didn't get to see the impact of my work.

2. Join LA Tri Club - completed. Although since it's off season, all the regular rides and runs have ended. So...that's just great. I decide to immerse myself in triathlon during the off season. Way to go me! At least I can build up my base miles during this time.

3. Buy a wetsuit - completed. Total amount was around $190 including tax and shipping, because Xterra was having their special sale. Not a bad deal, considering the wetsuit is usually $400 + tax + shipping. I can't wait for it to get here. I hope it fits!

4. Put the third paycheck towards my savings - *crickets chirping*

5. Participate in a 5K - fail. Honestly, I can go out and run a 5K on my own. I don't need to participate in a race. However, I did sign up for the 10K Turkey Trot during Thanksgiving.

6. Find out what i'm going to be this Halloween - completed. I was a vampire. I miss my fangs already. Is that kind of weird? I liked having those fangs! I liked licking my tongue against them.

7. Set a restaurant budget - *crickets chirping yet again*. I do try. I eat out less. My problem is lunch. I just need to get out of the office.

So. When it comes to my finances, I just want to turn the other way. I have days where i'm so into my numbers and everything, and I can spend hours budgeting. But then there are days where I just don't care. Blah.

Anyways, it's Halloween night and i'm home. I've been invited to several parties, including one in San Diego, but I just don't feel like getting dressed in my costume once again.  I also don't feel like spending money on getting in a club, or wasting my gas going somewhere I know I won't have any fun. I'm also not in the mood to mingle with a bunch of drunk people...sometimes I feel as if people still think they're in college. Totally not my crowd. I'm so not a boozehound!

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