I Heart Taxes

Hey guys!! Great day here, wanna know why? Today I didn't actually have to go to work, sort of. As a CPA in TN I have to get 40 hours of CPE (continuing professional education) each year to stay active. This means 5 days a year of sitting in boring classes and remembering why I have no desire to go back to school for anything accounting related. However, the teachers (usually) try to rush through so you get out at least an hour or so early, and it's a day you don't have to be at work! Today's class was actually sponsored by the company I work for. It's a big enough company that they try to bring speakers in a couple of times a year to minimize the expenses. No one else from my division went, so it was really like a day completely away from work. I got to see a few former coworkers and other accountant from within the company so it wasn't a bad deal. Our topic was taxes. Blah! What a boring deal. The lady who requested waltzed in and out of class and (tops) spent about 45 minutes in there. WTF? Over half the class didn't even come back after lunch. Whatever. I'd much rather be sitting there in a daze than sitting at my desk ANY day. I guess some people are just too important (or self important). One sourpuss CFO that I can NOT stand (never could) also waltzed in and out and of the 30 minutes he was actually in there he spent all of that on his Blackberry. He's seriously such an ass and I am SO glad I don't work near him. I have honestly NEVER seen this tiny Napoleon smile, ever. He needs to get into McDonald's ad campaign. Anyway, we got out nice and early and THAT's what I'm all about.

I came home and cooked a good dinner. We watched Tuesday's Biggest Loser while we ate. I swear that show ALWAYS makes me cry. Those people lose so much weight, it's such a life changer! I would never, ever go back to my sedentary ways. Life is so much more fun when you're active! Someone today asked me if I was active and I started to say "Hell yeah - I just hit the 100 mile mark last night for this month's mileage and I'm training for my first marathon" until I realized she was asking if I'm an active CPA! Oops!! Guess active means something different to everyone.....

This weekend we're doing the Halloween Hunt 5-miler. It's a 5 mile race at a nearby state park and is the kick-off race of the TN State Parks running league. The races will take place at different state parks all over the state. I think it would be a lot of fun to do several of them, and they also vary in length. On Sunday I'm planning an 18-mile run. Next Saturday is the Team Nashville half marathon, and that will be my long run for next week, and the first of my 'taper back' weeks as I build up for marathon training mileage.

Jon and Alejandra did awesome jobs in their first marathons last weekend! Stop by and read their really moving posts. I'm starting to get sad as many of you guys are finishing up your marathons. I know there are still several out there running NYC soon but who am I going to live through vicariously after that? It seems like there's a big lull between NYC and Disney. I've gotten so used to marathon reports from someone each week! Also, Brent B has a really funny post about starting run barefoot and he compares it to the video of Pippin with is boots on that my Brent had on his blog a few weeks ago.

Speaking of Pippin, he's a little frightened of the new rental car. He's never ridden in a car before so we took him out in it last night. He can jump up in the Expedition - he goes from running board to floorboard to seat. He won't jump in or out of the car - which is MUCH lower than the Expedition and even lower than our bed! He has to be carried. Very strange! I had a hard time remembering how the whole trunk thing works. I haven't had a car since 1999, so it took a minute for me to figure out where to put my groceries this afternoon, and to realize that cars don't have a knob for you to open the back glass up with! I've gotten quite comfortable in my rental and even set the radio stations today! I think we're going to be together for a while now......

See you later!

Rachel

Exercise -

Tues (post blog) - 20 minutes toning (focus:thighs)
Wed - 1 mile am walk with Pips, 1 mile pm walk with Pips and Brent, 20 minutes toning (abs) 20 minutes yoga/pilates (back)