no pain...no chance to whine

If ever I wanted to just stay in bed, today was it. For one thing, and something I've not admitted on here or really to myself, I'm at a crossroads at present. I always am when looking for a new job. I don't think I'm alone in saying that job hunting is exhaustiing, scary and not something I'd like to be doing at this time in my life. But since being unemployed necessitates the need to find a job, that's what I've been eating, breathing and sleeping of late. Bottom line, I am somewhat stressed.

As I told Lisa today, this stress is affecting my mood. I'm sensitive to what normally would roll off my back and truthfully, some days I should just close the blinds and chill out alone. Yesterday, after all the excitement and riding, I was pure knackered when I got home and, without going into too much detail, I had a very upset stomach. I thought I might have picked up a touch of a bug or slight food poisoning, but by this morning, I was fine if not a little dehydrated and groggy from 'tossing and turning' throughout the night. I still felt like a dog's ass (I know it's a crude expression but for some reason it makes me laugh). With some "HTFU" email messages from Herb, I somehow dragged my butt out of bed, dressed and drove over to Burbank to go riding in Griffith Park.

When I arrived (tardy), The Lobsters were there ready to roll. I felt bad. They'd suggested a different ride, the coffee run where we head out on 40 flat miles to Woodland Hills. I love that ride, but I knew I couldn't pull that many miles today. Looking back on it now, I should have insisted on that ride if I was going to ride since all we did today was climb! Ugh. Saying I had lead legs is an understatement. I was outright wiped, cooked, pooped, fill in the blank: _____!

I wanted to kill the men, who were riding at a strong pace always in the lead, especially Herb. He was suppose to take us up the easy side to Mt. Hollywood and to the Observatory, but he decided we'd climb the freakishly steep hills through the Los Feliz neighborhood. With every pedal stroke, I could feel my stomach gurgling and I cursed his back wheel. Luckily, I had Lisa there feeling identical (without the stomach upset). She was ready to kill the men too, so I had a sister in crime! Somehow, we pulled it out of some orifice and made it up the climbs to the Observatory. Here is where I'd say to any cyclist out there who thinks he/she can't pull it out and turn it on when need be - wrong! You can, and like me, if you haven't coughed up a lung, you will likely feel better after having ridden. It was at the top of that canyon looking out at the overcast skyline and down into the city that I thought, 'oh, thank goodness I rode today.' I thought this while my mouth was watering with bile that I was then forced to swallow or purge - yeah, I'm a freak.

As we rode out from the Observatory and into Mt. Hollywood Canyon the back way and down that long, isolated stretch of road, my mind switched into job searching mode and my mood switched to less than cheery. Lucky for me, everyone was amenable to stopping at Priscilla's Coffee Shop for some Jo' and then it was an easy sprint back to Herb's place and my car. I hugged Herb and thanked him for guilting my ego out of bed!

I then drove home where I've been working on my Marketing Plan (OMG it's so frickin' long and complicated!). Dad got the cold shoulder when he called as I was paying little attention to anything he was saying. He hates when I do that although he'll never scold me for it. Sorry, Dad, I was just in third gear at the time you called. I told him I'd be taking a workshop tomorrow, but I'm thinking of skipping it and taking a little more time on the Marketing Plan (which has to be completed and printed out for the workshop). Tomorrow, I've decided I'm heading to Kinko's (closer than The Warner Center in Woodland Hills), printing out my job application for the interview I have on Tuesday, filling all the paper work out, contacting a recruiter who wants to meet me (and setting up the meeting), getting my outfit and myself ready for my interview on Tuesday (self manicure for sure!) and just catching my breath. I haven't interviewed in almost six years. I need to get focused for my first one this go around.

As for the rest of this day - I will doubtfully watch the Oscars tonight. I was invited to a friend's house for an Oscar viewing party, but she and her boyfriend live in Pasadena. I'm just not in the mood to drive over there although I know it will be fun. I'm wanting to nest at present. Besides, Stephie will watch it with me should I decide to check out who won best actress or best actor. She's molting at present and her skin is peeling off. It's a good thing I love that little animal or I'd be so grossed out. Well, poor little thing can't help it. She is a reptile after all and that's what they do. She's kind of funny looking actually cause half of her is dull grayish and the rest of her is a new pretty skin color. I'd post a pic of her but I'm too lazy, plus she's in a bad mood too. She's glaring at me right now with that 'FatHead, don't even think about coming over here and bugging me' look. Just like me, she's shedding the old to make way for the new.

Oh, look at that...a life lesson personified by my 6 ounce Bearded Dragon. Sweet.