So, here's the deal. I think people tend to be more motivated when they have a goal. Are there any runners or runner wanna-bes out there?
I think we should get a group of Calorie King friends together to run the Shanghai half marathon this Thanksgiving. I ran the full marathon in '06 and it was a lot of fun. The streets are lined with old ladies waving flags and playing their little drums and school-children cheering in various places.
I've been living and working here nearly 3 years now and it's really great. I can host the Calorieking group while you're here and arrange for some touring in local small towns and such. I would LOVE to show you around and it will be an excellent motivation to exercise too!
Also, if you're a Christ-follower (like myself), I can bring you to the church here and introduce you to some great things happening here.
Anyone in?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now to a TOTALLY different topic...

I know this next statement is going to sound absolutely ridiculous but, I am starting to feel a teeny bit old... well, not exactly old because, I am 25 and at the prime part of my life right now.

But, I was reading another blog of a 23 year old and remember being in college 4 years ago (I graduated a bit early) and how different I was back then- how sheltered and naive and full of potential for the future. And where I am now... So many experiences since then.

Now I have a job I love and am working in the remarkable, never boring city of Shanghai and going to be married this year to the most amazing man in the world and go to this fantabulous church where people really, truly seek Jesus and don't go to church just because it's the "culturally acceptable" thing to do and I'm eating well and am losing weight (slow as it may be) and have enough money to buy nice clothes now and then.

This is where I wanted to be. Right? I wanted to make a difference in people's lives and live a life that meant something. I wanted to life life to the fullest and make good choices. I don't smoke or drink (for health reasons), I watch maybe 4 hours of tv a month, I wake up and go to bed early and seek to know God more and follow Him... why am I feeling like something's amiss?

Maybe it's because my family is on the other side of the world and I miss them. Maybe it's because I am confused over what to do when my trial comes up on Monday (where my neighbors are suing me because my house caught on fire while I slept and they were affected by it). Maybe it's because I am afraid of the permenance of marriage.

I mean, I don't know how to be married. My parents weren't the best example (as much as I love them) Or what if I don't like sex or know what to do? Or what if I can't have kids? Or what if I have kids right away and my kids never get to know their aunts and uncles and grandparents because I am on the otherside of the world? Or... what if I never learn to be consistant? Sigh. I miss my mom.

Yes, she's inconsistant and self-absorbed and vain and flighty and unreliable and not exactly faithful to her husband but she's been such a big part of my life and I love her and, with all her faults and shortcomings, she's sacrificed a lot for me and loves me and is crazy and fun and is there for me if I need her and has really taught me so much good. When I was young, she loved and followed God and always listened to Christian radio and played with us and cooked and cleaned and helped me with my school projects and was happy to be my mom. Yes, she's tired of the "mom" role now and is pursuing other things like getting her degree and such but she's still my mom.

Whew. Well, if you've read this far, congrats. I was just venting I guess. I think it's going to be ok. I know it will. Just gotta take this thing... life... one step at a time and not worry about things before they're put on my plate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Longest entry ever...

So, I thought I was having a heart attack today- or something. I've been feeling really tired recently (probably due to my hardly eating anything) and today I had a ton of work to do and all I could do was go to sleep. So, I drank 3 cups of coffee one after another. As you can see from my food journal, I had very little to eat. It definately woke me up and I was a busy bee for 4 hours.

Then, at 6 o'clock my breathing started to get heavy and I started getting heart flashes and my heart began beating really really fast. I felt like I was going to suffocate and faint and burn up all at once. Because I had the coffee 4 hours before I didn't think that that was the problem. And, I haven't had any diet pill for 2 days because I am a bit nervous about diet pills.

I had no idea what was wrong.

So I grabbed my purse and keys and rushed out side. Maybe fresh air was what I needed. But as the elevator went down, down, down my heart beat went up, up, up. Although I had been sitting doing computer work all afternoon, my heart rate had now risen to 120 bpm and rising. I was gasping for air and walking outside to try and find someone to help me.

My boyfriend had is phone off and I was surrounded by people who can't speak English. Luckily I found a foreign man walking out of his apartment and called out, "Sir" gasp "excuse me, sir" gasp "can.. can you help me. My heart... I think there's someting wrong with it."

"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" "Yes... please" we got in a taxi and arrived and I asked him to stay with me... he was very kind, stayed with me and paid for everything. All was well after about 40 minutes and I went home to eat some sugar to balance the caffiene.

What confuses me is why it had such a delayed (4 hour) effect.

Thank God I am well now.