I went hiking this past weekend and I’m glad it was better than I expected it to be.  When I learned that the hike was about 2.1 miles or was it only 1.2, probably the latter, I thought it was going to be pretty lame.  In fact, I was thinking it was just going to be one of those trails similar to the ones in that huge park in RB.  I thought we would be in and out in 30 minutes.  Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Tenaja Falls is up in Murrieta, so the thought of driving that distance just to hike for about an hour total was not going to be very exciting.

But I was wrong…and the hike turned out to be eventful after all.  We hiked to the end and the reward was some small waterfall.  There were tons of kids around, running around, playing around in the water.  Since I thought the hike was just whatever, I opted not to wear my hiking shoes but just wore my running shoes instead.  That was not such a great idea because I didn’t really have good grip on the rocks.  The waterfall was surrounded by these huge rocks that you had to climb up/down on to get to the bottom of the waterfall.  So, my friend suggested I just take off my shoes and socks to get more traction.  Good idea.

We hung out for a bit and were about to climb back up out of the waterfall.  I was first and began up this rock.  It wasn’t really one where you could just step up, so I was kind of on my hands and knees and trying to find a groove for my feet.  Next thing you know, I try to put my foot somewhere, and I slip and am unable to hold myself up considering I barely had anything to hold onto.  Falling…smack on my butt into the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall.  Fail.  I immediately jumped up to check my cellphone since it was in my pocket and I immediately grabbed my backpack to see if it was wet because my camera was in there.  Whew!  Everything was safe.  The cell phone was a little wet but was fine.  I, on the other hand, had my shorts all wet and part of my shirt too.  Not only was it wet, it was muddy.  Gross.  It was kind of funny because my friends were all concerned about me since I fell and I was more concerned about my electronics!  :)

So, I realized I could not go back up that way because now I was completely wet which would make it even more slippery.  So we decided it would be best to take this other route.  We had to cross over this small stream of water but I was afraid too since my feet were all wet.  So I decided that since my feet were wet anyway, I might as well just step into the stream and then cross over instead of trying to hop over it.  I take a step in the stream and then BAM, slip AGAIN!  Fell on my butt into the water AGAIN!  This time my backpack was more wet so I was more concerned.  Whew.  Good thing I put the camera in a bag in a bag.  Now this is not just some measly compact camera I had in my bag, it was a dSLR.  So then we thought it was best to put my camera into my coworkers bag.  I put my socks and shoes back on and was able to climb, cautiously, bak up above the waterfall onto the trail.

I was pretty wet but it was warm so it was okay.  The problem was that we were supposed to eat afterwards and I had wanted to check out this one store in the mall.  So we made a detour at Target for me to purchase some basketball shorts :) and a t-shirt.  So I buy the stuff and go change.  Then we were off to the rest of our adventures.

Notes to take:
Rocks + Water = Slippery
Always keep an extra set of clothing in your car

In this life, some of us are runners, some are walkers, and others are crawlers. Runners move and they move fast. They may face obstacles but they hurdle over them easily. They may be presented with opportunity, which they accept willingly and immediately. They seek adventure, challenge, and take risks. The problems they encounter are dealt with when they occur–time is not wasted thinking about “what ifs”.

Walkers sometimes walk fast and sometimes walk slow. When hit with problems, they ponder about it and can move on. I think the difference between the walker and the runner is that there is some extra thinking involved before actions are made.

Crawlers move slowly and hesitantly. They are dreamers of opportunity and adventures, yet they only go as far as the thoughts in their head. Crawlers don’t move very far even if they want to. They are complacent.

The constant thing that ties our lives together is change. Runners can adapt to change. Runners are on speed and have no problem with change. When walkers experience change, with some pondering and some pushing they may accept it. Crawlers that get hit with change are often lifers, meaning they will never move, they will crawl around in the same spot until something out of their control moves them.

No matter what pace each person is or chooses, I think the most important thing is to keep moving and to not let anything hold you back from doing what you want to do. Surely not everyone is defined by one pace, I know many people who are in between. I think it is important for those who run to push those who walk and for those who walk to pick up those who crawl. Because change is always present, the crawlers should not be left behind. I think they need the support to get them up on their feet so that they can start walking too.

It was lunch time and me and my coworker were out the door, into the elevator, and I kept pressing the door open button to wait for our other coworker.  We waited, and waited, and nothing.  So, too bad, I hit close.  We were chatting and then after awhile, I was like, uh, why is it taking so long?!

OH, I didn’t press a number.  HAHAH.  FAIL!!

I didn’t know you could go in the elevator and have the doors close without choosing a floor.  We got down and my other coworker was waiting by the front door.  “What took you guys so LONG?’  Oops.  Haha.

I find it odd that someone like me who is so afraid of people, who is such an introvert, so shy, and quiet desires to not be alone.  It almost seems completely out of character.  I hate that feeling of being alone.  Of course some me time is good sometimes, but I think more often than not, I’d rather have people around me and I’d rather interact with them.  I think.  I didn’t have any food in the house and needed to go out to eat.  I tried to find someone to go eat with, but sadly no one was available.  I guess I’m just so used to having people around.  I think one of my fears is to be alone.  To have no one to talk to and to have no one to do anything with.  As talks about how my best friend is probably soon going to be on the other side of the world, I feel sad.  I’m so used to having someone there where I can just be like, “let’s go eat” or “let’s go do this”.  I don’t know what I’m going to do when she’s gone.  It already makes me sad to think about it.  Sigh.

In attempts to keep this thing alive, I think that if I don’t have anything to write about, I will share a story or a random fact about myself.  At least I will try to.

Do you know what everyone should do?  Everyone should go visit every food/restaurant website they like and subscribe for their newsletters.  Why?  Because you constantly get coupons and normal people don’t get and also because most likely you will get something free for your birthday!!

Yesterday for lunch, I went to Daphne’s and Rubios because I had free meal coupons from both.  I shared one with my coworker.  It was so nice.  At Rubios, I could order up to $7 worth of food.  I ordered the shrimp burrito that I have wanted to try for so long but didn’t because it costs almost $7 itself.  It was tasty!  At Daphne’s, I could get a free plate, any plate.  Those plates range from $7-$10.  Sweet deal!! =D

Last night, I went to Red Robin and redeemed my free burger!  That’s another $9-$10 saved!  Things I still have left are a shake from Fuddruckers, and something from Chevy’s, Beyond the Border, and Famous Dave’s.  But I don’t know what they are yet because I didn’t click on the coupon because the expiration date is activated from the time you click on the coupon.  The rest of the stuff I got all expires on Friday (2 weeks from when it was sent out).

So, if you want free food, sign-up!!  Plus the coupons are sweet too! :)

I’m not sure how often they have a blood drive at cbc but I think this is the 2nd one I’ve seen since I’ve been here (or I just haven’t paid attention).  The flyer was in the bulletin for a few weeks and I had contemplated about doing it but I have always thought I couldn’t because I once tested positive for TB.  I never actually had TB, I just unfortunately got exposed to  it.  But I read online that it was okay as long as you didn’t have it.  The blood drive was on Sunday and even throughout the week I was thinking about it but still unsure.

Then after the service, LA was like, hey you should give blood, I bet you’d be good at it.  And I was like, well I thought about it, but I don’t know…  She said she would buy me lunch if I did it.  So we went up to the little table to look, but no one was there.  We were flipping through the little book of info when this unfriendly lady came out and just stared at us.  Hello to you too.  She didn’t even say anything to us!!  She should have been asking us if we were interested or had any questions.  She just stared.  So LA was like, she (me) wants to give blood.  So then the lady gave me this card to fill out and was like, go inside when you’re done.  Thanks?

So I was getting pretty nervous when I went into the bus.  I had to go in this tiny tiny room with this lady and she asked me a bunch of questions and then pricked my finger.  And then it was time to give blood.  They have you lay down and they tourniquet your bicep area and handed me a stress ball to squeeze.  Cleaned my arm for 30 seconds with iodine and then proceeded to prick me with a large needle.  I watched the whole thing!  That needle was much bigger than the ones normally used at the doctor’s.  So I laid there and let my blood drain into this baggy.  LA was telling me that if I beat this guy (who had started before me), that she would give me $5!  That guy had been lying there for so long!!  I guess my blood came out really fast!  Good flow.  But I lost by like 30 seconds!!!! So close.  You give a whole pint of blood.  That’s 16 oz as in like a water bottle (a little smaller than the costco ones) – crazy!  I got up and had some snacks (oj and cookies) and I even got a too big t-shirt.  I felt a little weak but I was okay.

Part of me didn’t want to give blood because you’re not supposed to do strenuous exercise afterwards and I knew we were going to play ultimate.  But that was kind of a selfish reason so I did it anyway.  I was convinced that ultimate wouldn’t be strenuous exercise.  Boy was I wrong!!!  I played one short point and needed to sub out.  Then I went back in and at one point after I had stopped sprinting, I like couldn’t breathe.  My heart was beating so hard!!  And then all of a sudden my vision started to go nuts.  I couldn’t see anything.  And I was like crap, I think I need to get off the field NOW (which I should have).  But I was like no I’m supposed to wait till the point.  And, I didn’t want people to wonder what I was doing (not running).  So I tried to walk around near the play but my eyes were so warped (it was kind of frightening – things were like turning black and white (bright).  Luckily, the play clock ran out and I went off and laid down.  And LA was like drink more liquids.  So I pretty much laid down for the whole time!  I think if I had stayed on the field any longer or tried to run, I would have passed out.  I guess sprinting is strenuous exercise.  Maybe if I was just standing there playing frisbee catch it would be okay.  Lesson learned.

Also, I was surprised to find so few people donating blood.  With so many people at the congregation, you would expect more people to participate.  I think people don’t do it because they are unsure of what it entails.  But quite frankly, its effortless.  I think a flyer is not as strong as word of mouth.  I think if more people were told about it and why it was important, and how easy it was, then more people would do it.  They should advertise in the small groups.

I admit that I did feel nervous the whole time and I wished that the workers were more friendly (which I heard that they usually were).  I’m glad I got the little push I needed to go and do it, because otherwise, I really don’t think I would have done it.  Will I do it again?  Probably but I think I still need the moral support.

The Need is Constant.  The Gratification is Instant.  Give Blood.