Today something funny happened, at least to me was funny (😆). It is not the first time that has happened but the first time at my new job. Most of my interactions with other people from the company are via email and until today, I had no profile picture in either my Skype or email. In “the real world” I go by Gaby, that’s how I have been called by friends and most of my family since junior high. When I first moved to the US and some still, call me Gabe (which I kinda don’t like much but whatever) and many others, call me Gabz (this one it’s more than fine too).

So I guess, apparently Gaby, it is more associated as a girl’s name, here and probably in other places. But back home (Puerto Rico) it’s associated with either or but mostly as a guy’s nickname.

So, I have been having lots of interactions with the same lady over email and Skype messaging for the past few weeks. Today in particularly, she had a few more requests than normal to which I always replied and helped her out in no time.

At some point she sends me a message on Skype.

Girl you are on a roll today, You’re on fire!

🙁🧐😅😂🤣😂

I honestly laugh, a lot. Then I took a few minutes to think how to respond to her and disappoint her by revealing I am not a girl but a guy (😅).

So I replied:

Of course…. and sorry to disappoint you but I am not a girl but I am on fire 🔥😜😁

(emojis included)

To she was shocked I guess and very apologetic about it. Of course, by this point, I’m so used to this type of “confusion” that I told her to not worry about it (😅). I was not offended in any way, I am sure there are other people in the company that are presuming I’m girl too. So I had to do what I have not been wanting to do, which is putting a profile picture. The reason I’ve never done it before it’s because I hate pictures of me, for whatever reason and the one picture I may like about myself, I am holding a beer (😅).

Anyway, I put on the one that’s on my LinkedIn profile thingy and called it good. Now, let’s see how many other will be mind blown by this reveal.

I wrote this, in Day One, six years ago.

Uff ! They have just opened a new position on disease control, very tempting. The only thing that’s make want to apply for it is that the position is as an assistant scientist. It’ll be the fastest way to get promoted from what I have seen so far. 😔 I want to stay in Biochem but, I’d love the promotion.

At the time the promotion was very needed. I did apply and didn’t get the position. Later on I got promoted as an assistant scientist in Biochem. Guess things come to those who wait.

As I have written many times before, staying fit and healthy is a goal of mine. Not for 2020, it has been since last year and I have been pretty consistent with it – as consistent as I can be. SO it has been about a year, I think since I signed up for my gym and have been working out and all that jazz. Ever since this pandemic situation, going to the gym is not an option and who knows when I’ll be able to be back at it. During these stay-at-home/ working from home weeks, I have been doing the best I can to keep up with the workout routine. Whether I do a video from youtube or find some workout online, both inside out outside of the house. Outside of the house, it’s more fun, I am glad that I have a decent yard that I can swing my kettlebell at, do my special burpees (it’s a regular burpee but jumping forward instead of upwards) and even using the girls' swings set. But in these conditions, it’s also hard to stay motivated and not fall into a boring rutine. So much so that there are days that I don’t care about doing anything, and this is not acceptable. On top of that, I have been so “focused” om lifting that I forget to listen to my body and I am a little hurt. My lower back has been killing me for the past two months or so.

A while ago someone recommended to me this YouTube channel by Heather Robertson. In her channel, she has a lot of HIT workouts that require no equipment and they are pretty good but then again I feel like I needed a rest from these High-intensity workouts. One time, browsing her channel I found this video. This video I put it in my “Watch-later” folder, it’s a stretching recovery, yoga-inspired workout. This one of the things I, now, suck at – recovery and stretching. And I don’t know what happened, I used to be really good at listening to my body, stretching, taking breaks and taking care of my body. But in the recent year or so, not so much.

Anyhow, today I took a break and did this video and these are my findings.

1. OMG, I needed this! almost every movement hurt, in a good way, like things were loosing up.

2. I am very stiff, I am not as flexible as I used to be. I am very tight and didn’t truly realize it until today.

3. I need to do more of this. I need a break from the high-intensity workouts and kettlebells and, well, I should do Yoga!

4. My lower back feels much better and I am mentally more relaxed. It felt like a good therapy session.

Now I am going down the rabbit hole looking for a good program or channel but most importantly, that is free (if possible 😅)