There is a reason why Coke commercials depict the world in a utopian state. Coke = awesomeness.
It is no secret that I love soda in general, but Coke is my very favorite, especially Vanilla Coke. I had my first Vanilla Coke when I was 5 years old at Cummings' Candy (and now Coffee) Shop. Tom Cummings would work his soda fountain magic for my sister and me after school sometimes, and his Vanilla Cokes are still incomparable to the ones that come in a can. (Yes, my hometown has a soda fountain on Main Street, and yes, it is kind of cute.) It was love at first drink, and I have been hooked ever since.
I gave regular Coke up for Lent four years ago (because I realized that I was consuming more calories in Coke than I was in food), lost seven pounds, and then switched to diet Coke after Lent was over. And now, as I am beginning to once again over-consume Coke (even in its diet or zero form), I have given it up for Lent once again.
I am miserable after only one day! How sad is that? I am also craving every other junk food on this planet to compensate for my daily can (or two...or three...) of sugar. This could be a rough 40 days...
I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic last night, and I feel like I need to get this off my chest...
...my name is Sarah, and I am a window shopaholic. It's true. And it's getting worse over time, especially now that I am budgeting more in preparation for my honeymoon.
Normal people go into a store and buy things every now and again. I wish I could do that. My version of shopping involves finding items that I really, really want (like the Friends DVD box set! or a chef's knife!), walking around the store with them in hand (or basket), and then not buying them. I chicken out! Sometimes I even get all the way up to the register before I panic and decide not to buy the item(s).
And even if I manage to buy the item I want, sometimes I return it. I bought and returned the same mixer cover THREE times before David got it for me for my birthday. I would buy it, bring it home, tell myself that $25 was too much money to spend on a stupid mixer cover, and take it back. Then I'd regret it when my mixer bowl got dusty, and I'd go back to the store and buy it all over again. I'm sure the sales clerk thought I was beyond wacko (and really, rightfully so).
I keep telling myself when David and I have "real" jobs, we'll have more flexibility to spend money on things that seem a little frivolous now. However, while I'm sure that is true...we'll also have more adult financial responsibilities. Like a house. And two cars. (And in time...kids.) If I can't start buying simple things now, will I ever shop normally? Or will I always put things back as I'm waiting in line to purchase them?
Ironically, while watching the movie last night, I completely sympathized with the way the main character felt while shopping. I love stores. I love sales. I can't stay away. I will never turn down a trip to the mall. And I'm always tempted...I just never, ever give in.
Next month, I vow to give in. (I swear.) When my roommate moved in last November, I promised myself I would buy three things with the rent money I was saving: a Chef's Knife that will actually cut through food, the Friends DVD box set, and a yoga mat. So far: 0/3. And so, next Friday while I'm waiting for David to be done with work, I am going to go to Dick's Sporting Goods and buy a yoga mat. After all, doing my Pilates exercises three times a week on a beach towel is a bit ridiculous...
Even when the work week hasn't been so terrible, it still feels really nice when Friday rolls around. I am in a good mood today because 1) my lab work load is not horribly demanding today 2) my parents arrive in town in around 10 hours or so 3) I got accepted to the Gordon Research Conference in NH, which means I now have two trips to the Boston area in early summer 4) I remembered to bring a can of Vanilla Coke Zero into work today, so I have (fake) sugary goodness to enjoy at lunchtime (or in a few minutes).
And reason #5 for my excellent spirit (and the best reason of all) is that I have officially graduated from physical therapy! My last session is next Wednesday morning! Though I was initially extremely depressed and angry about my injury, in the end, physical therapy really has helped me and I am almost back to normal. It has also turned out to be useful -- I now know how to lift things without putting such a strain on my back, and I can also keep doing a lot of the stretches and exercises I learned at therapy (which have been very effective). I feel a lot stronger/healthier than before I was injured, so maybe in hindsight the injury was a good thing. I am really motivated to keep making progress, so I will probably get into pretty good shape this spring after all.
Ironically, since so many of my stretches require me to hold myself up, my arms are actually beefing up! My complete lack of arm muscle has been replaced with a tiny amount of muscle development that freaks David out (because it is so small and therefore, further evidence that I really did not have any amount of muscle there to begin with).
I have been so consumed with my own life lately that I have not been using this post to talk about the great things going on for my wonderful friends and family! And since they are awesome...wonderful things are always going on. And so...news that isn't all about me:
1. Kristen got accepted (without an interview!) to Northwestern PT school, and she will start in the fall. Hooray! I am so happy for her, particularly because she will get to try living somewhere other than Pittsburgh for awhile. She is going to make a great physical therapist, and at the rate I'm going, she'll have her own living subject to practice with on breaks from school!
2. Elliot is putting on his own Off-Off Broadway show about life as a mid-twentysomething, and I am incredibly proud of him. He and his roommate Jenn wrote the script, and of course Elliot tackled all the music and song lyrics (and let me tell you, these songs are catchy in a good way). Check out www.candidaffairs.com for more details.
3. Victoria got promoted at Proctor and Gamble, and it is well-deserved. She is a rock-star, and I have no doubt she'll be at the top of her Swiffer division in no time. Though if she switched to packaging Febreeze candles, I wouldn't complain... :-D
4. My sister got a promotion at Red Lobster, and she is now a Grill Master. I think this title is incredibly cool. It makes me want to be the master of something at my job...until I say things out loud like "BioGel Master" or "Chromatophore Master" and realize that they are far too dorky to ever be as cool as Jenn's title. She is doing very well in school so far, and seems to really be enjoying her new hospitality management path. ( I am still waiting for my free cheesy biscuits!!!)
Wishing all of you a pleasant Friday full of reasons to be in a good mood.
They made me nervous there for a bit, but I always believed they'd win a sixth title...and they did me and my fellow members of Steelers Nation proud! Go Steelers!! It feels great to be fan today.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/02/02/steelers/index.html
With all the Super Bowl excitement, I almost totally forgot that today is one of my favorite PA holidays! Happy Groundhog Day! I hope that I get home in time tonight to watch the movie -- one of my favorite Chobot family traditions. (I do wish Phil hadn't seen his shadow this morning -- I'm kind of over sliding to school on icy sidewalks.)
