Happy Birthday Ruffie!

When I first met Melissa freshman year in the dorms I could have never guessed what the next ten years would hold.  I can assure you that after a road trip to Dallas to see Dave Matthews that first semester that Melissa would tell you with certainty that I would not be involved in any way, shape or form in her next ten years.  But, alas, I prevailed and we went on to live within a barefoot walking distance from each other for the next 4 years.  She has been my most trusted confidant, my emotional counterpart, the president of refusing me whiskey, my new york hotel, the source of my inspiration for having the confidence to move to London and most of all the best friend anyone could ask for!  Happy Birthday Ruffie, you'll always be older than me!!

These are just a few of the reasons that I love this girl....

Fighting Fit

Over the last couple of years I've managed to put back on all the weight I lost post college (after putting on the sophmore 20)  I've even been so dedicated to this I decided to go ahead and put on a little extra for good measure.  Ugh, sick of this and sick of being here again.  I have obviously been a member of two different gyms since I've been in London and I have done the same thing with both...go strong for about 2-3 months then drop off all together.  The thought of joining another gym and running on a treadmill and going to Body Pump made me want to gag.  Besides, I knew I'd just do the same thing I always did...quit going.  So I decided that I needed something different that would keep my interest longer and I came up with boxing.  Cara and I had done a few boxing classes in Dallas and I really enjoyed those, they were a great release of pent up frustration.  Because of this I already own a set of boxign gloves and a set of pretty pink wraps.

One quick Google search later and I found out that there is a boxing gym right down the street from my office.  I checked out their website and saw that they have evening boxing classes and even women's only classes twice a week.  I called them to make sure that these classes were more along the lines of "fitness" rather than training for actual boxers.  They assured me they were so I headed over to Rooney's Boxing Gym the next day for my very first women's only boxing class to check it out.  Lucky me, they had just added an additional time for the class since their classes were beginning to get a bit crowded and I showed up at the very first one...and no one else did.  So I got a free one on one with a trainer.  Ouch!  That is all that I have to say about that. I quickly found out that my pink wraps were unacceptable and got myself a new green pair.  I then proceeded to work out with Micky, a scrappy irishman who I can't understand a word he says!  We finally started speaking with hand signals and got along grand.  Although I couldn't walk for three days afterwards, I went back for more this week and joined up for the year!  I am loving this place.  It is a legit boxing gym where real boxers train, it smells like something very sweaty died in it, there are blood stains on the mats in the boxing rings and it is an absolute sausage fest...I love it!  Apparently the owner, John Rooney Jr. (who wrapped my hands for me last time) is one of the most respected and sought after boxing coaches in all of the UK...what have I signed myself up for?!?!

All of this gym joining/me being sick of lugging around 20 extra lbs came at the perfect time.  We just started a Biggest Loser challenge in our department at work!  So I have the next three months to lose lose lose!!  My goal is 12% of my body weight, so lets see if I can reach it! I'll keep you all updated on my progress...maybe even some before and after photos if you're lucky!!

Sorry Mom...

I've done it again, I've managed to sign myself up for another ridiculous challenge with Annie.  Exactly one year from today I will be in the midst of crossing India via rickshaw, racing against 60 other richshaws full of fellow lunatics!  I am literally so excited about this I might wet my pants!  It all started about a year ago when Annie told me there was a rickshaw race across India to which I replied "when do we sign up?"  Unfortunately, it's not that easy.  They have three races a year, in which you have to sign up a year in advance and they sell out in under a minute.  We were trying to sign up for the Winter 2011 race, but we were otherwise occupied climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro during the sign up.  We had Colby try to register us, but she said it was sold out before she could even refresh her screen. 

So that brings us to yesterday.  Sign up for the Spring 2011 Rickshaw Run, 2pm GMT. Annie and I were exchanging phone calls and emails all morning prepping ourselves to make sure we secured a spot in the Run. I had my screen pulled up just staring at it at least an hour before sign up started.  About 5 minutes 'til, I started refreshing my screen like a mad woman just waiting for that green button to pop up.  I called Annie minutes before and we both had crazy butterflies...it was a massive race against the clock.  But it paid off, Team Rickshaw Rodeo will be racing across India April 17-May 1, 2011! 

So a little more about the Rickshaw Run.  It is put on by a company called The Adventurists, which is basically is a bunch of guys who tried to think of the stupidest things you could try and do and made them possible, all in the name of adventure.  The "race" is more about the adventure you have in the two weeks between start and finish and not about who gets there first.  There really are no rules (other than if you lose or completely total their rickshaw you have to pay for it) and there is absolutely no support during the actual race, you are completely on your own.  They give you a rickshaw, a start and an end point and say "Go!"  That is it, you figure out your own route, your own accomodation, if you break down you have to find someone to fix it (which they guarantee you will break down as rickshaws are the least reliable mode of transportation).  Read their warning here, unless you are my mom...don't read it Mom...really, don't. Basically, it sounds like the most fun 2 weeks ever, to me at least! 

So not only is this in the name of adventure, but also charity.  For each Run, they select a couple of local charities in India to support, so Annie and I will have to raise £1,000  to be able to compete.  I am so excited, but I'm not so sure what I have gotten myself into this time!

You can read more about it here....http://rickshawrun.theadventurists.com/

A walk in the park

Such a beautiful day in London on Sunday...spent the day eating ice cream in regents park followed by a little "punting" aka boating!

Ps. Don't you love my new iPhone app. Hipstamatic..makes fun old timey pics (thanks ruble for the tip off!)














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