Today’s workout was pretty awkward. When it comes to “conventional” training, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I have been training using kettlebells or unconventional training for so long that I feel like I’ve lost that knowledge in some way.

Today was leg day (the best day) and I had decided to do some squats with the barbell like most people do. It felt so weird, as if I never had my form right. On top of that, the two lady trainers were exactly where I was and it made me feel super uncomfortable and awkward 😅. I just wanted to finish my rounds and move on to the room I’d normally workout in, away from everyone else.

Once I was in that room with a heavy kettlebell, I was home, I was safe. I don’t know, it is a weird feeling.

This weekend, was a good weekend. Yesterday Annie went out with her friends for some zip lining in Tamarack, here in the Idahos. Meanwhile, I spent the afternoon with the girls, Annie’s brother, his wife, and their kid, at the water park and later at the community’s pool.

Today, after picking up around the house, we all went for pedicures. It only took 40 years for me to get my first one.

Now we are closing this fine weekend with some pizza, and beer, beer for the adults only that is.

It is a super-chill morning today, so far. It rained last night and we are still getting a little drizzle. It is currently 66 degrees outside and the highest will be 86. The coffee is good, as good as Starbucks coffee can get, that is. I had a decent night’s sleep, and a good breakfast, it is quiet in the office and my boss won’t be around today. So today, I am Gaby, and not “Hey, Gaby!”

I am liking today so far.

Playing: Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones

It has been now about three nights of less than 4 hours of sleep, 3 hours max. Why? The fuck I know (laughs). I haven’t changed anything, and still taking my sleeping pills, and yet, for whatever reason, can’t seem to have a good night’s rest.

The only times I can sleep well is if I drink, and, I am sure as hell, that I don’t want to rely on the drinking. My humor seems fine though, I am chirpy and as focused, and alert as I can muster. Maybe a little snarky every now and then but that’s normal in my personality I think.

It is messing up my workout routine, though. I am yet to skip any days, well except for Monday, but no matter how exhausted I am feeling, I have managed to go to the gym and do my sesh the past two days. But I struggled and today, it won’t be any different.

Silly Gabz, you need to listen to your body and get some rest.

Yes, perhaps but I can’t help it at this point, I just go and do things.

Perhaps I need to try something different.

I like sleeping, I’ve just forgotten how to I guess.

I love my job like I truly do and I’m happy to do the things I do, no matter how overwhelming they might seem at times. Today we had a meeting, something about core competencies for each level. Technician, Analyst, I think then it’s Technical Expert and Manager level.

When looking at that slide and all the different buckets and their competencies within those buckets, I came to a realization. I have more buckets than what my current level is described as. My current position is, on paper, at a technical level, when in reality, I match all the Analyst’s buckets. I have been doing what would seem like a 60K job for 47K. These are made-up numbers but you get the idea.

In a way felt like a slap in the face that I wasn’t looking to get. But probably a necessary one. Why go above and beyond when I am getting the bare minimum? I don’t want to sound ungrateful or something but can’t help to be somewhat bothered by it.

Not sure what will happen from here, definitely will have a talk with my manager on our next 1-on-1 (which is tomorrow). And for sure, I don’t want to become a little bitter, or discouraged, and lower my standards in the work I do and the passion I have for it.

A few months ago, our company changed timekeeping systems, to a much “intuitive and reliable” one. Well, little did we know. The thing is confusing to use, things are tricky and don’t make sense. Even the managers don’t know what to do in some circumstances. Heck, you can’t even enter days off ahead of time you either enter your time off on the day of or after the fact.

A few weeks ago, my mom was here, visiting the girls, and I took three days off. When I got back I tried to enter my time in the same way I have done before with our previous system. Well, first, is not like I could change the pre-populated time, to vacation time. Then I was told, to leave it and enter a “new shift” with my vacation time and vacation code, and the system would automatically update, somehow.

A week later, payday comes around. I got asked if I got a raise. I was confused for a minute, then, I realized what had happened. The system did don’t correct itself, I got paid for 24 hours of overtime…

Then, a debate started in my head. Do I say something? Should I not? Is not my mistake. Or is it? Now I’m conflicted, and I knew this would not let me sleep. So that afternoon, I talked to my manager and explained the situation.

I was praised for my honesty and for coming forward and saying something. Neither I nor my manager knew exactly how to go about it. Eventually, he talked to his manager who in turn asked him to reach out to HR.

Long story short, my next paycheck will be short. Sometimes being honest sucks 😜

Today, on this beautiful morning, the sun was out, the birds were chirping and I was ready to head out to the wilderness that is life and work. I’ve got my backpack, my lunch, my coffee, and loud music – I’m ready. I take my usual route, for when I am not taking the girls to grandma’s, and head out to the freeway. Normal traffic, nothing out of the ordinary. When I noticed that the traffic in the opposite direction was stalling more than normal. I said, hm! Then I saw that a car or two were “stopped” obstructing the traffic and there were some people sort of dealing whit the situation, cops, an ambulance, and whatnot. Then I saw it, a red car, a mini SUV, upside down, doors wide opened, yikes!

Slow down, pay attention, and be safe out there, people!

Oh, and wear your seatbelts.

Although Marley is still an eager little beaver about her braces, she’s also facing the inconvenience of them. She complains that her teeth hurt, which is most expected, they will be sore for a few dates for sure. The most difficult time is night time, gotta give her some ibuprofen beforehand and wait until, well, the pain is tolerable enough for her to settle down and fall asleep.

Last night was a little bit of a struggle and tonight, well, so far it’s shaping up to be the same. So I am here typing while she plays on her Switch waiting for the ibuprofen to do its thing. Well, I know better, she’s also stalling but it’s relatively early so I’m okay with it.

However, I could use the sleep. Last night was a struggle, also for me, in a way. It wasn’t until 2:00 am ish that I finally settled, just to have nightmares all morning long. Today, was a real struggle at work. Not only because I was sleep deprived but it was a really busy day, way too many fires to put out. Also, I ran out of one of my meds and didn’t have time to pick them up yesterday so today I was both sleep deprived and chemically unbalanced. I still managed to make it happen, still some fires left but that’s tomorrow’s Gaby’s problem. I did manage to go to the gym after work though, I was happy about that, it did me good, mentally.

Anyways, let us hope for a good night’s sleep and a better, more swimmingly day tomorrow.

Counting corn, ain’t happening today. I forgot they were watering the field today so it is all muddy and almost un-walkable. This means I’ll have to finish up on Monday, and next week, it’s going to be scorching hot. However, if I survived Florida, I can pretty much survive anywhere.

It is all peachy!

Coming up. How to delete your Reddit account. Just like everybody in the Mother will be blogging about for the next few days.

If you have fooled my blog or at least know me a bit, you should know that when it comes to working out, I prefer kettlebells. And if you didn’t, well, now you know. I love kettlebell workouts, I’ve been doing them for years now, circa 2013.

Why? Well, it’s not so traditional, I much prefer their versatility and “playfulness”. I find gym machines boring, plus there are some benefits to it.

• It helps with full-body strength.
• Low impact cardio
• Improves core strength and stability.
• Explosive power in the hips. (queue swings and snatches)
• And betters coordination and mobility.

Among other things.

It’s so easy to just grab a bell, and have a good full-body workout. I can do it at the gym or at home. I currently have two bells in my play box.

I can just take them both, put a mat on the patio and go at it, or on the grass. Outdoor workouts are the best, in my opinion. I need more bells, I want a set of the same weight for double-handed workouts, and a very heavy one. But for now, these should work and do more than enough “damage” 😏

Keep moving!