superstarded

Well, I did my trial run and placed in the 12:30 mile group. I wanted 12:00 but 12:30 is pretty good too. I’m excited that I moved up from my old 14:00 mile group from last year.

I’m more in the neighborhood of 5:45 for the marathon at this pace. I might move up a pace group later this summer or I might just go nuts towards the end of the marathon to get to 5:30. Or I might just settle for 5:45. We’ll see.

I really think that my weight is keeping me back from my running goals. Next year I want to run 10:00 miles. Thats a big jump from 12:30. I’m more or less the same weight as I was last year and I still managed to bump up my pace. To get myself to the next level for the 2009 marathon I’m really going to focus on losing weight. I’m hoping to get down to 200 pounds by the end of the year.

So I’ve been talking to the new agencies. Of course no one called me back after I registered so to be proactive I called them up myself. That’s the thing with these agencies- there are so many people looking for work that you have to be aggressive. Even when it’s with agencies that only have boring shitty jobs.

Anyways, I have an appointment next week with one and I have to call back the other to set up an appointment.

I took a short-term assignment from my mother agency. It’s through next Wednesday. It’s totally going to screw up my unemployment. The only reason I took this job was to stay on my agency’s good side.

This short-term assignment is at a location that a lot of my former co-workers ended up after we all got laid off. It was really nice to see them again. Kind of funny. Small world, etc.

One of my friends pointed out that most of my jobsearching has consisted of temp agency stuff and I’m always unhappy with the work I find through agencies. He’s got a point, but I just really need any kind of job at this point.

Next week I’m going to call the woman that I interviewed with. The interview was for a really good job. She said there wasn’t room in the budget to bring me on and I emailed some time after that but she never responded. So even if she was feeding me lines I’m at least going to get myself some closure.

Also, going to call advertising guy. Going to do a little research and come up with a new ad-centric resume before I call. Planning on calling him on Monday.

Yesterday was my last day of Writing 2. I have three more levels to work through. In the last level (Level 5) me and my classmates will stage a review show using sketches we’ve written. I’m really excited about that.

I’m going to do some rewrites in my time off before Writing 3.

I registered with three new agencies yesterday. I’m hoping to hear from them early next week. Right now I’m having to tap into the portion of my severance that I set aside for my laptop (see goal #7).

Due to a combination of wasting time and a spill in the kitchen I didn’t have enough time before class to call ad guy. I’ll be on a bus to Michigan today. Will have to call him tomorrow.

Hopefully I’ll place in the right pace group. I’m kind of nervous. We’ll see what happens.

I’ve found that consistency is the key to running success. Getting enough rest and eating a healthy diet make all the difference in meeting my running goals. I’ve been unemployed for over a month now. As a result I’ve been stress eating and not sticking to a regular sleep schedule. So I’m going to work on cutting that shit out.

So I’m not getting results from the agency I’ve been with for a year. Time to sign up with other agencies. Hoping to sign up with three new ones tomorrow.

Also tomorrow- I know a guy that’s a friend of a friend. He works in advertising. I have his number. I’m going to call him to get career advice on how to break into advertising. I’ve been wanting to work in advertising for a while now so hopefully he’ll be able to help.

Let’s just say I was way over 245 yesterday. I’m hoping to reach 230 by the end of this month, which is a tall order, but I think if I really work at it I’ll make it.

I’m getting laid off on April 2nd so it’s really important that I find a new job before then. This week I’m going to edit my resume. I’m also going to speak to HR about opportunities in other branches of my company.

I joined the Century City Bally’s. The dues are kicking my ass right now but it’s worth it. Convenience, cute guys, yoga classes, treadmills.

So Chicago was a disaster. I couldn’t handle the heat. I was dehydrated, lightheaded and nauteous. I kept falling further and further behind. I only made it halfway before they finally cancelled the race. I took a bus to the finish line.

BUT.

After Chicago I signed up for the Detroit marathon and I finished that one.

Until next year, Chicago.

So with my company discount a Macbook costs $1,222.

So far I’ve saved up $300. I’m expecting a bonus with my paycheck next week. I might finally have enough cash to buy a laptop by the end of this month.

The race is in three weeks and I’m both excited and nervous. I ran 26.2 miles during training so at least I feel fairly prepared.

I’m going on vacation to San Fransisco for a week after the marathon. I’m much more excited about that.

Now all I have to do is rectify my credit history.

I’ve set up my last payment for this month. In 16 days I’ll have it all paid off.

I moved into my very own Boystown studio last weekend. It’s teeny tiny and overpriced but I love it. I’m right on the lake and I’m right in the middle of Boystown. It’s great.

I’m training for the Chicago Marathon with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. I’m so happy that I’m doing this. Seriously. I’m losing weight and doing physical feats I never thought I could before. It also means a lot to me that my running supports a cause I believe in so strongly.

Today I ran 14 miles and it’s going to get tougher and tougher before October 7th but I try to look at this process step by step and not get bogged down by the end goal.

I get insurance with my new(ish) job. Boo-yah!

I’m so done with my current living situation. I have an appointment w/Apartment People on Monday and I’m also going to scour the want ads on my own.

I have a night job working as an usher at the playhouses downtown which means I’ve seen Wicked about three billion times and counting. It can be a pain in the ass but the extra $$$ is nice.

I’m in the process of paying off this debt right now thanks to a call a few months ago from The Man.