So much to say, yet so little

Did you realize it’s possible to have so much to say yet not have anything to say?  Because that’s how I’ve felt the past couple days.  As a certain bad mood was lingering longer than welcome, I found myself wanting to write about those things.  But at the same time, I want to keep this blog upbeat, while still allowing you to witness my journey.  Because as I’ve said before, bad days come and go but the good thing is that tomorrow doesn’t have to be that way - you get to start fresh.

And so I did.  Each morning I started fresh.  And even if at the end of the day I found myself feeling a bit tired and cranky, I knew tomorrow would be a fresh start.  I also didn’t do any yoga last week aside from 20 mins Friday night.  That is not allowed to happen! Got it? You all are to hold me to my commitment to yoga!  We know it’s importance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and mindset, especially in my life!  I’m thinking I’ll go tomorrow after work - to start this week off right!

Speaking of this week, it’s going to be a crazy one!  With back-to-back launches (ie: iOS5 and iCloud, followed by iPhone 4S), work is going to be a mad house!  I’m doing the overnight shifts to prepare the store for both events, not to mention making sure my “normal” job is done and ready as well.  Really, tomorrow is it for me to make sure we’re in good shape and then it’s GO TIME!

Launches are exciting, energizing and definitely something to look forward to!  And I think we are all going to try to make this one of the best for Steve.

What’s really amazing is how each Apple Store across the globe has become this place for people to pay their respects to Steve.  Whether they come in the store to purchase anything or not, they’ve come by to show their respects and support for our company and the loss of an amazing person.  Several have dropped off flowers, candles, apples with bites taken out and notes.  While I had the day off today, several of my coworkers have taken pictures of artwork that was left at our store late last night/early this morning.  It’s absolutely amazing and I hope it’s something our store will be able to keep and hang in the back.

Fitness Friday

Sat 10/1/11

40 mins abs, arms and stretching

Sun10/2/11

25 mins run w/ warm up and cool down

Mon 10/3/11

Rest

Tues 10/4/11

40 mins abs, legs and stretch

30 mins stationary bike

Wed 10/5/11

20 mins run

Thurs 10/6/11

45 mins arms, abs and stretch

25 mins stationary bike

Fri 10/7/11

20 mins abs and stretch

30 mins elliptical

As you can see, there was no yoga in my life this week.  I planned to go today after work, but my body was in pain the majority of the day (and still is) and I didn’t feel like 90 mins of a fairly intense yoga class was probably a good idea.  I may do 20-30 mins in a bit because I just feel it missing from my life but in general, I need to get back to my yoga heavy workouts (especially since I’m paying for them every month).

In fact, as I sit here drinking my hot tea, listening to the new Feist album and typing an email to my mom about a lot of the health stuff going on right now and as it’s making me all teary, I’m realizing I need to just go do yoga, read and hit the hay early tonight.

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

You don’t have to have known him.  You don’t have to have even met him.  You don’t have to have ever worked for his company.  He had an impact on the world.  And chances are you found out on one of his devices.

apple.com

I’m glad I was at work when I found out.  Quite honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else when I found out the news.  We knew he was ill.  We knew it was serious when he chose to hand things over to Tim Cook.  But we also thought we had more time.  The store quickly took a very somber tone.  It became cold and quiet.

Someone looked at me and said “Katie, you heard right?”  I quickly went through possibilities of what they could be talking about but when she pulled up apple.com, I was in shock.  The whole room went silent and it was like everyone was just staring at me.  I was utterly speechless.  I walked out of the break room and two of my coworkers were pulling up apple.com to display in the theatre.

With all of the rumors that circulate about Apple and their product releases, one of the things we have to tell everyone (and since we never know ourselves), is “if it’s not on apple.com, then nothing is official.”  We often tell people how we find out when we see it on apple.com.  There is no surprise that we found out through apple.com.

Steve Jobs has left behind a legacy and a culture.  He has touched and revolutionized the whole world and we are all feeling his loss.  He has mentored and inspired a community throughout the world.  And he has created a company, that only he could.  And he will be truly missed.

apple.com

But despite the sad news of today, we will all push forward as he would have wanted.  We will watch this company grow and develop and continue to revolutionize our industry under his legacy and Tim Cook’s leadership.  

Apple is one large family.  From the retail stores all the way to corporate.  And today we come together as one family to help us all push forward.  We will not mourn his loss but rather celebrate his life.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs

It is a pleasure and an honor to work for your company.

Rest In Peace Steve Jobs.

1955-2011

A new look!

I’ve been wanting to change the look of my blog for awhile, especially after the Healthy Living Summit and in no way is this my final look.  In fact, I’m really working on moving it over to my own domain, but I’m not quite ready.

Nonetheless, I wanted something clean and simple temporarily, as I was sick of the same old look of my blog.  Expect changes to keep on comin’ as I find time to do a bit here or there.  And hopefully some even better photos and let’s be honest, my 3GS won’t make it much longer and despite the fact that it’s not the iPhone 5 (apparently we must keep waiting until who knows when), I’ll probably be purchasing a new phone on October 14th - the iPhone 4S - just announced today. 

And while my money is going to all sorts of medications and doctors visits for the unknown pain in my body - yes, my doctor did admit today she’s unsure of what is causing my pain - I will still probably get a new phone next week.

I should also make note that I finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban last night and have moved onto Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire this morning while at the gym.  It was a bit difficult to balance it on the stationary bike, be it so big but it was fun to start the next chapter! I’m doing a terrible job of making this a book club since I can’t seem to put them down so for that, I apologize!

I’m off to shower and stop at the pharmacy to pick up another prescription before work!  At least I’m not feeling quite as  sick today as I was yesterday, so that’s something.

Happy Tuesday folks!

Music Monday

It’s not often that I find myself liking current hits on the top 200 radio stations; it’s just not generally my kind.  Obviously there are always some that I do like or eventually grow on me.  At least until the stations completely overplay them and the start of the song makes me either want to jab something in my ear or switch the station.

There is one song that I’m sure will eventually get old, but right now I can’t but help sing along to and it’s “Moves by Jagger” by Maroon 5 feat Christina Aguilera.  Both artists had fallen into silence it seemed for a bit (or at least weren’t doing anything that I paid attention to) and then came this song.

I imagine it will soon be added to my workout playlist because it does a good job getting me pumped!

My last semester at college, I had an assignment to interview someone in the music industry.  Anyone.  As long as I could get in contact with them and they agreed to the interview, of course.  I went searching through my brain for people that I’d want to interview and quite honestly, I’d have been excited to interview anyone!  But I was super excited when Maroon 5’s manager agreed to do the interview; and even more excited when we actually found time to complete it.  It was a phone interview (you know with him being in California and me in Boston).  My biggest take-a-way from our chat, was that he was the one who helped “break” Maroon 5 - he took them when no one really knew who they were, to the internationally known band they are today.  And he’s been with them through it all (and I believe, still is).  I remember hanging up the phone and thinking about how someday, I want to say that I broke a band and years later we’re still standing side to side working together like a family.  There was a brief moment I thought I was getting there, I was wrong but years later and that interview still left me with a bit of a soft spot for Maroon 5.

(All of the videos for this song are weird...sorry, but true...)

Pushing through the 3rd..

If you remember the other day I mentioned how I was nearly complete with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2).  That night I decided to start the third book (HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and made it about 30 pages in.  Well having yesterday off with nothing more planned than a good workout (which I did get!), I found myself engulfed in the book and I must say I’m now over half way through the book (around page 275 or so?).

I had no plan to read these so quickly.  In fact, I’ve never been one to read that much since we were introduced to WEB reading in elementary school and I was forced to read.  There’s something about telling me I have to do something, that’s just never gone over well.  Must be the Aries in me. ;)

Either way, I’m enjoying myself and not going to try and stop the urge to keep pushing forward.  I just wish the movies could keep up with me! (I’m sending Sherlock Holmes back to Netflix tomorrow so that the second movie can be delivered!)

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A morning that feels like fall...

Growing up in the midwest, I have a love for changes in the seasons, particularly the “in-betweeners” aka spring and fall.  I love spring thunderstorms (though I’d lose the tornadoes) and watching the flowers peaking their way out from under the ground.  Despite my birthday being in the spring, fall may be my favorite season hands down.  I love watching the colors on the trees change, the cool crisp days that make you want to wrap up in a sweater or blanket, apple picking and the cravings for apple and pumpkin recipes.  It really is one of my favorite times of year and one of the things I miss most living in LA.

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Most people would probably think I’m crazy that I’d be willing to change 70* and sunny nearly year round for seasons.  Holidays don’t feel the same to me out here as I have apparently attached certain weather conditions to that time of year, and therefore holiday. 

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It was to my utter delight that September left LA with thunder, lightning and rain! This was the first time in the 2 years I’ve been in LA, that I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing this without thinking I was going crazy!  It’s rained, yes but lightning and thunder?  I always thought I was making things up.  Yesterday I knew I was not!

And then October greeted itself with a nice little chill this morning.  Like the fall chill I love and miss so much.  I ran downstairs, started a pot of coffee, grabbed a blanket and opened up the back door, eating my breakfast and enjoying this weather.  I expect it will gone shortly but I’ll take whatever ounce of fall LA is willing to give me. (And I should probably go shopping for some boots for the winter rain...have any recommendations?)

Anyway, I know that wherever I end up deciding to settle down, will most likely be somewhere that I can truly experience the beautiful changing seasons, especially fall. 

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Happy Saturday!