Call 9-1-1 and Other First Week Fun

Yes, nine-one-one my first week. The day I was the only manager on site, too. Good sign, bad sign, who knows sign, but it's over and I survived, phew.  #thankgoodnessitsover #talkaboutalearningcurve

The first week of management brought man things. It brought:

... early mornings waking up while it was still dark outside. 

... driving and witnessing the most beautiful sunrises. 

... helter skelter mornings as I tried to get as much done the first two hours of work before I had to be at the front desk for five hours. Luckily the gym is slower than others so I'm able to get a lot of paperwork done online.

... two days of barely eating because my body was still hurting from the previous week. 

... lots and lots of apple juice and water.

... multiple trips to the store for um...digestive aids. 

... two workouts at the gym during my lunch break.

... a whole cooler reset.

... fun moments of learning my staff. 

... moments of apprehension as I tried to understand each person's personality.

... a nine one one call when someone stole an employees car from out front of the gym. 

... my first incident report. 

... my overnight guy putting in his two weeks. Manager Pinky was able to wrangle three weeks, phew!

... not a lot of sleep but a lot of moments of accomplishment crossing off to dos.

All in all it wasn't horrible. Honestly, if I hadn't felt so crummy all week due to my gallbladder situation I would say it was a great first week. However, being in pain Monday and Tuesday made it tough to really concentrate on anything else, but I was able to hide the situation from everyone so I call that a win. By Friday it had all but subsided and thankfully I'm now back to normal. 

Speaking of back to normal, the weekend brought  me back to my Pinkyself and I was actually able to get out of the house and do things instead of just lay on the couch. It was a full weekend indeed.

Full of...

... tuck jump workouts and mirror work. Gotta keep the ups for BODYATTACK.

... beautiful sunsets that bring me peace each and every evening. 

... a wonderfully supportive card from my two beautiful sissys. #missewe

... another trip to the Vol Navy on Saturday for some Tennessee football with T-Bone.

... real clothes and my favorite jacket. 

... a special, special Starbucks treat I haven't enjoyed in a really long time.

All in all, a fun weekend...until I had to go shopping for black pants. My gym uniform is a black polo and black pants. The hiking pants I've been wearing are great for comfort, but not so great for the cooler weather coming our way. So, I headed to the local Old Navy for some inexpensive black jeans or khakis. RANT ALERT: CAN THE SKINNY JEAN FAD BE OVER SOON?!?! No one has boot cut anymore and NO ONE HAS jeans for short people either. I'm gonna check online, but I was sooooo annoyed after 45 minutes of trying on pants that didn't fit. RANT OVER!

I hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed your extra hour of sleep. Not the biggest fan of the early dark evenings now, but the extra hour was such a nice bonus yesterday. Cheers to a great week for everyone, let's make it happen :)!

Six Months Later, Did We Make The Right Decision?

Here we are six months after Le Husband and I threw our lives into upheaval and moved states without jobs. Here we are far enough away from the beginning clarity is present. Clarity to look back and take stock in where we were, what we had, where we went to now where we are and what we are doing. Summer flew by faster than expected. The days were long, but the weeks were short and we have managed to have some fun while dealing with life. There have been new friends made, new traditions started and lots of time in the fitness world that I love. How could I think anything BUT the right decision?!

I mean, I'm sitting here, writing this in shorts, on a porch with this view. How can I complain? It's peaceful, beautiful, the perfect way to end an evening after a long day of work. With wine or a hot drink, it's the perfect spot.

Well, then you remember, it's not your house. Not your porch, not your view, not your mortgage. None of it is ours, except what we have in our room. Everything right now is a temporary situation and while we are GRATEFUL BEYOND BELIEF for family, it's sofreakinghard not having your own space.

There have been many sleepless nights. Many crying nights. Many arguments with God and with each other. Too many times to count I asked 'Did we make the biggest mistake of our lives'? Too many times I put on a brave face for everyone else, including Le Husband, but in my own quiet corner I cried in despair as things kept falling apart. We would get so close and then poof, gone.

Our dreams were so big, so much bigger than where we are now. I'll admit, I've cried because everything we dreamed about is not a reality. The jobs, the money, the home, the land, and the free time, not at all what I expected. Le Husband and I expected a house already, one with a yard and a decent amount of space. Not quite our forever home, but possibly the skeleton of our dream. We expected two jobs we enjoyed that would pay us half of where we were back home, because we did our research and saw multiple upon multiple job postings in our fields open before the move. Talk about being crushed day after day, week after week, month after month. It has been some of the hardest poundings I've ever experienced and my body is still suffering from the stress.

Sharing this here is tough and scary. One, I know there are people out there who feel vindicated we didn't get everything we wanted right out the gate. Two, sharing a goal and not reaching it is never a fun feeling. Three, exposing our true lives to the world offers a different look many choose not to share because it is so raw and so real and so messy. But, such is life. Even if we had stayed we would have failed at something. Or life would have knocked us down in an unexpected way. Life happens no matter what you do, at least the troubles of the past few months were brought on by a choice.

We would have failed without family. 100%. The overestimation of applying for new employment and gaining new employment would have done us in if we were living in a hotel or forced to sign a lease immediately. Money could have run o ut. Patience WOULD have run out. And egos would have been bruised too badly to mend, of this I am sure.

Back to the question, did we make the right decision? Hesitantly I say yes. Working a full-time job, with benefits, has brought on a new sense of hope. Without my job I would hands down say no, we jumped the gun. I believe we would have continued to muddle through, but with a feeling of failure and desperation. We would have settled which completely negates the move in the first place.

Last week was tough as I feared the worst with my new job. However, my loving sisters pointed out how MUCH had to fall into place for me to be in the position I am in right now. The gym I taught at HAD to have needed Front Desk Associates. My manager had to be understanding, engaging and encouraging. There HAD to be people who believed in me and my possibility. A job HAD to open up within the correct timeline. Someone HAD to be willing to take a chance and I had to be willing to accept a challenge.

Which is what the rest of this year and most of 2017 will be, a challenge. Learning new job responsibilities, creating tighter budgets due to smaller incomes and figuring out how to deal with life is what I see in the next six months. Hopefully, the next update will more upbeat and positive. I pray I'll lustily shout out YES, THIS WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE next blogpost, because things will have fallen more into place. That is my hope. That is my goal. That is my dream.

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C U R R E N T L Y

starting: my new job! thank you again for all the love last week and yesterday. monday was a bit of a hullabaloo because the woman I replaced decided to cut out early...oh.okay, yeah thanks! yesterday I had a plan and it immediately changed when someone couldn't make a class, at least it hasn't been boring.

discovering: how much I love fall in the south. yesterday temperatures were in the high 70s, yeehaw!

celebrating: the small vicotireis in life. sometimes when big things bog us down [health issues, job issues, insurance issues, looking for a house issues] it helps to celebrate the small, daily victories. today I celebrate the beautiful sunrises and sunsets this week, pictures to come.

reading: lots of fun books in my small amount of free time. it is my GOAL to link up for show me your books this month. MUST.GET.POST.DONE!

listening: to the My Favorite Murder Podcast, which is so fetch. I started listening really early, back around the six episode and it's incredible how this phenomenon has exploded. Any fellow murderinos out there?

wearing: a uniform of all black. kind of bummed I can't justify new, trendy clothes anymore :(!

googling: medical issues, hello WEBMD!

linkinguphere

The First Week Begins

Friends, HI! Thank you so much for the love last week. Seriously, each and every comment here, on instagram, Facebook, in emails, texts and calls made my day. Friday the 21st was a whirlwind of emotions and then all of a sudden it was Monday and I hit the ground running. 

Last week was hectic beyond belief as I finished out my one week [more like three days] as a front desk associate and then spent two days at my new club learning from the previous manager. HOLY MOLY was it crazy, overwhelming and at first a bit of a disaster. 

Tuesday had me calling my BOFF and sisters bawling because it was all so new, so big, so vast and so much responsibility with scheduling I felt I'd made the biggest mistake not choosing the other job. I wasn't sleeping, eating, saw all of my holidays and family obligations floating away as I realized how much work I'm now on the hook for at this club. 

I'm grateful beyond belief for all of my supporters, prayer warriors, friends and family. Every time I said 'I can't do this' they all said 'YES YOU CAN and HERE IS WHY'! Last week ended up pretty well with my home club, I said my goodbyes, brought in treats, had dinner with a friend and then planned to hang out enjoying my last weekend of 'freedom. I really tried to embrace the quote above, not wanting to tiptoe in fear, because there is a REASON this all came together. 

Well, wouldn't you know, when things start coming together something has to just pop up and derail everything. Friday night began a gallbladder attack like I've NEVER experience and I am still suffering the effects today. The weekend was pretty awful, I almost made a trip to urgent care because it was so uncomfortable, but thankfully some of it has subsided. I'm beyond blessed to have nurses in the family helping figure things out. Right now I honestly can't afford ANYTIME off for the doctor, nor have our benefits kicked in for a visit with insurance. Send good healing vibes and prayers my way, pretty please. This aching has gone on long enough, I need to be healthy to lead my team and have no time for stupid body shenanigans.

I've been pretty low since Saturday and was stressed beyond belief Sunday night anticipating Monday. It went as well as one could hope -- minus the dull ache -- I learned a lot, did some team building, brought in treats oh and dealt with the woman covering for me leaving at 10am instead of staying the whole day. #thanks?!

So, this is a pretty mumbo jumbo post, but I needed to put some things out there for me and to say THANK YOU once again to each and everyone of you. I appreciate your words, thoughts, and well wishes and hope to be able to get back once again to living life here in blogland. < 3 y'all!

The Sun Shines Brightest After the Rain AKA I HAVE A JOB

Thank you friends for your love on Friday. The post came together in fifteen minutes and I almost deleted it because it was so sad. Yet, I knew I needed to put those words out into the universe. They needed to leave my head and become less powerful in the world. I cried on my way to work because I felt so disheartened and fearful. The anticipation and unknown was pulling my soul down and I felt helpless to turn my mood around.

I'm forever grateful to my friends. The ones who sent emails to me when I turned comments off. Who texted me just to check in on my heart. The ones who called and reassured me it would all come together and the right decision would play out no matter what. You turned my drizzly miserable morning into just another rainy day and wiped away the clouds covering my eyes.

After all the tears, fears, drama, interviews, resumes, near misses, no response emails and phone calls left unanswered it came. After all the waiting and double teaching days while working the front desk of a gym for minimum wage, it came. The call I've been waiting to answer for so long. Finally, the voice on the line said "We'd like to offer you the job"!

Yes, friends, yes! I am no longer just working part time. I am now a FULL TIME employee with a steady paycheck, benefits, 401K, sick leave and vacation. FINALLY! FREAKING FINALLY!


My Friday afternoon turned around in a matter of minutes and now my future is busy, busy, busy as I get ready to prepare for my new gig. This will be something completely new, as I've never managed people before, but will also be something I know as I've learned a lot in the fitness world the past few months.

I grabbed celebratory champs and cupcakes to share with Le Husband Friday night and he brought me home flowers, peanut butter M&Ms and a card. After so many heartbreaking talks and tears it was such a joy to celebrate a success together. Saturday brought about a charity kickball tournament with friends and many congrats were given my way when people asked what I was doing down in the area.  It's so much easier explaining our move now that we both are employed full-time. No one cares, I know, but constantly saying 'I only work part time at a gym' was beginning to get depressing. No more. No more down in the dumps. No more silent pity parties at night as I struggle with our move.

This post comes to you from the deck as I watch the sun set over the lake. Fall colors are blooming everywhere and the temperatures are once again mild making porch sitting with wine possible. I don't expect the future to be easy or perfect, but I finally feel as though we are moving in the right direction. We are both taking a step forward and my confidence in other parts of our life falling into place is once again high. Thank you for being here. For reading this and for being there during the dark moments. Your comments, emails, texts, private thoughts and prayers mean more than you could ever possibly know. I wish you all the best Monday of the year. < 3

The Opposite of a Friday Favorite.

So what's happening? A whole hell of a lot and nothing at the same time.

This post is brought to you by multiple nights of no sleep as my brain fails to turn off. Or my body doesn't know how to deal with the stress of changes and real life adulting. My emotions have been all over the place the past few weeks as opportunities have arrived, which is great, but then things lined up so perfectly suddenly go helter skelter and it seems as though we are starting all over again...all over again.

Today is a day that brings about much anticipation, fear and almost a sense of foreboding. Today I find out where I will be working full-time. I had an offer made last week in an easier administrative position [set hours, full benefits, vacation, 401k] and the day before my interview another job was posted, one more in the wheelhouse I THINK I want. So I interviewed for that position earlier this week, it went well but the expectations were sky high, something I hadn't expected. The second position would require managing people, inventory, schedules, operations of the day to day and fitness classes. All with very little training before I jump into the deep end alone.

Originally I thought "this is it! I know what I want" yet now as the day grows closer and the hours tick away, I find myself wondering "do I want the easier job"? Honestly, I don't want to make the decision, I want it to be made for me. I don't want to look back and think 'damn, if only'. A lot of people have gone to bat for me at both jobs so one way or another I feel I might disappoint on top of everything else and that's never fun. The support has been incredible but so much support can be overwhelming if something doesn't workout.

Whatever the outcome I'll have an offer and I'll be starting something new very very soon. Which is good and so needed. Le Husband and I need some good news and something to boost our collective self esteem. Working part time and making peanuts is hard, so much harder than I expected. Putting paperwork together to apply to apartments or townhomes is not only tedious and frustrating, at this juncture it's almost a bit embarrassing. Looking at our collective take home punches me in the gut every time we crunch numbers. On paper we look like completely different people. No one seems to care about our savings, our investments or our available cashflow, all they want is 'what are you bringing in now' and right now that's close to nothing.

 I don't really know the point of this post. Well, actually I do. I just need to get the words out. Words I can just vomit here and not worry about how they are taken. Words I don't need to bog down my friends and family with daily. Words that once said sometimes seem to lose their power. These words and fears are out and now hopefully I can start finding the blessings again. This move was our choice and I'm clinging to hope things start to turn around...again.

*comments turned off*

While I Have an Extra Few Minutes

Let's post, shall we? Remember when I said I thought I had a new schedule down? Yeah, me too. To be honest, I did, but then LAUNCH WEEK happened and my life was COMPLETELY consumed with fitness, teaching, new classes, new choreography and anxiously awaiting my certification.

When I say there was NO TIME to post or blog, there really was NO TIME. I barely slept, barely ate and jumped full force into my six launches in three days. WOOF! Don't get me wrong, I loved every minute of it, [well almost EVERY], but I'm no longer a spring chicken and pulling two a days started to max me out. All of the launches went really well and the energy in PUMP was fabulous. Already looking forward to the next quarter's launches, SOOOO.MUCH.FITNESS.FUN!

The last class I taught was my FIRST BODYATTCK class since filming and I was a bit nervous since I hadn't received my certification from LES MILLS. Oh AND this was a substitute class for a different program leaving me concerned about people walking out when they realize the switch for launch week. THANKFULLY no one left and AWESOMELY everyone LOVED the class and many told me they would give it a try another day. Can I get a HOORAY!? Oh yeah, I was also interviewed by a local radio station for Gold's Gym. We talked about my fitness journey, why I became an instructor and what I hope people can find in fitness. The DJ told me I was very well spoken and that he loved taking my class, double hooray.

Want a triple hooray?!?! GUESS WHO RECEIVED FULL BODYATTACK CERTIFICATION ON FRIDAY!?!?! THIS PINK GIRL RIGHT HERE!!!! I have been sweating bullets since submitting my video and Friday was the due date for my results and I was convinced I would have to retape since the assessor was waiting to the last day. I physically jumped up and down when I finally saw the email and was blown away by the assessors comments and critiques. Now it's time to start subbing and then hopefully get my own class, woop woop! Holla at a double certified instructor!

Oh, look at that. An email from my regional manager with a class change for tomorrow. Well, guess I better go learn some more BARRE. No rest for the working fitness girl ;)! Hope y'all have a wonderful day and HOPEFULLY I'll be back with a lil more of a catch up tomorrow.