Running & But Bites

I've finally become comfortable enough with my neighborhood to start running outside (I am well aware my discomfort may have/WAS an excuse for me to not exercise the way I should). Last week I started running outside a pathetic two times a week versus the jumping jacks I do inside to make myself feel better.

Yesterday I visited GE's Health and Wellness Center for its employees, and I tried out a machine I think was called iBody. Basically the machine takes your weight, BMI, your muscle mass in all extremities, and body fat etc. The conclusion of this exam was that I have too high of a body fat percentage. Basically the nurse told me I had to gain more lean muscle and to work out my core (yes, the machine can tell you where the high body fat percentage is distributed). Very depressing...but it's no new information, just information printed on a piece of paper that is HAUNTING me.

So of course I kept my running up this we

ek, fortunately, unlike my first time, I did not feel like I was going to have a heart attack. Strangely enough, it was enjoyable (:

It's a shame that I've not fully taken advantage of my ability to run or be as active as I could be. The midwest is teaching me so much (:

On a side note. Last week I got

bit by something at work when eating lunch outside and as the week proceeded, the bites bec

ome enflamed and purpleish (obviously making me concerned). After ruling out many bites thanks

to the internet, I decided to venture downtown to a pharmacy by bus to just get some sort of medic

ation. The pharmacist there refused to treat me telling me my bites were infected and sent me toa clinic. I went to the clinic (very freaked out at this point) and the doc there had no idea what was wrong with my bites. She ruled out an allergic reaction, spider, tic, and mosquito. She prescribed me a steroid cream and an antibiotic (that apparently will make my skin burn easily if exposed to too much sunlight or artificial light). BUT i'm still alive, so I am assuming I do not have some foreign bug disease.

Happy Tuesday!

Run Sausage Run

Friday after work all the GE Healthcare interns headed to Miller Stadium to catch a game and enjoy a tailgate. Now, I'm not a huge baseball fan but come on-how can you resist running sausages? People vote on the sausage they think will win after the sixth inning (:

Plus, there's a big yellow slide and every time the brewers hit a home run, their mascot slides down and throws water balloons and firecrackers go off.

Wisconsin knows how to spice up a ball game.

Chink.

It doesn't matter how many times I come across some ignorant jerk who thinks it's alright to practice his prejudice.

It pisses me off EVERY time.

Yes. There are Asians in the Midwest.

My very first Hibachi experience occurred in Wisconsin-bizarre right?

I was fortunate enough to join a GE dinner last week with the Training department, and all I can say is Delish! I was quite intrigued with why/how these Asian chefs got to Waukesha, Wisconsin (especially since I'm making the assumption they are fobs based on accents etc, very wrong I know.) Regardless, it was a fun time, but I wouldn't want to sit next to strangers...awkwarrrdddd, but thankfully we took up a whole table.

I ordered filet mignon and scallops (plus the chef gave me chicken just because (:, which I thought was very nice). Though I am a person who tends to dislike steak, the mignon was tender, and the scallops were perfect. They were fried in a boat load of butter, and my scallops were perfectly caramelized.

If you look carefully below, the hibachi chef is holding a plastic toy boy, 'solju boy,' who puts out a fire coming out of a volcano made of rice by peeing on it. no joke.

Sun packed weekend!

After four weeks, Angela and I finally planned to take part in Wisconsin's Friday Fish Fry. My mentor at work suggested a bar right on Peawaukee Lake, which is adorable! To be honest, fish fry really is just fried fish, but it WAS delicious nonetheless (perfected fish and chips). Since I'm a sucker for all things local, I dabbled with some local brews, and what's insanely crazy is I found one enjoyable! THE SPOTTED COW.

Saturday we woke up bright and early to do a 5k walkathon fighting cancer at the Milwaukee zoo. Genius idea if you ask me, and the event was quite a hit! We then made our way downtown to the lakefront to take part in Milwaukee's annual art festival, gathering I believe 181 artist around the nation. We also joined the kids in making t-shirts and necklaces from old washers (: . I'm telling you...we definitely got our money's worth! The art was beautiful as well, and when we are adults, we will come back and buy buy buy!

Dinner- Mexican food at Jose Blue's Sombrero, delicious! Their table side guac was to die for, but what was even BETTER was their signature drink, Margarita swirled in Sangria. SO GOOD.

Last Weekend in Madison!

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to visit Angela in the capital of Wisconsin!

We spent the weekend relaxing in her adorable basement home and eating as much as we could, in the span of a weekend.

Saturday morning we took a trip to the farmer's market (you haven't seen a farmer's market until you've seen this one). It lies RIGHT at the capital and by State St. (the cutest little street with all types of trinkets!). We bought: a spinach cheese pie, a coconut macaroon, a peanut butter marshmellow square, a chocolate cream cheese cupcake, a bag of green beans, and a bangle. I know, random, but we were way too overwhelmed by the awesomeness surrounding us.

We then went to look for the Land's End Canvas Store (college line of the company Angela works for). Unfortunately for myself, we passed way too many cool stores on the way there. There were stores selling beautiful crafts, and some even had stations where you could make your own buttons and cupcake toppers! After finally reaching the Land's End Store (which took approximately three times of what it should have) we went to lunch. There was a big sign that said sangria so we knew that was where we would be dining (: . We ordered a salmon salad with a raspberry vinaigrette and a chicken pasta with a cream tomato basil sauce.

Here's a synopsis of our weekend. Enjoy!

First posts in Wisconsin

June 4, 2010

Thankfulness

I am nearing the end of my second week in Wisconsin. I’m twenty one years old, but it’s no shocker that there are some life lessons that can never be learned enough.
At the end of last week I found out a recent SU grad-a friend from freshman year, was swept away by the ocean. Marinna was beautiful and bubbly. Once you met her there’s no way you wouldn’t remember or recognize her, even if the two of you were only acquaintances.
I heard this news in the midst of being homesick and wondering what I was doing here and how I would be able to finish up my planned twelve weeks after not being home for a year. It’s sad to say that after freshman year my interaction with Marinna was always in passing, but if there’s one thing Marinna believed in, and could be spotted a mile away, is that life needs to be lived.
There is so much to be thankful for, but why is this a lesson that I must continually learn?

---

June 3, 2010

Land of Cheese

Now that I’ve arrived in Wisconsin, I have finally jumped on the blog wagon.
Waukesha, WI is both nothing like, and everything I expected. There is absolutely nothing around, my allergies are raging, and funny little white things fly around ALL the time. People talk with a strange accent, one that resembles canadians and southerners, and i LOVE how kind everyone is. I live in an apartment that obviously hosted a past chain smoker as I cannot escape the stench, and I avoid the strange demographic of people who are my neighbors. It takes approximately three times the amount any toilet I’ve ever used takes to flush (I find this particularly strange).
I have purchased one, three drawer unit, a lamp, a plastic chair, and 1 each of: a bowl, plate, fork, knife, and spoon. I was living on the floor for a week until I couldn’t take it anymore, and ordered an air bed from amazon.
Never have I felt so outside of my comfort zone. With this said, I’ve had a great first week and am thrilled with work. Part of the excitement (which also brings anxiety) is that I’m living in a place I know nothing about in a shabby apartment.