It's Been a WHILE!!

TH090108

Man, I've been away a while. I haven't written here in a while because I just haven't had the spare brain cells to put enough thoughts together to write here.

A great many things have transpired since my last post. I sold ALL of the stuff I needed to sell on craigslist. And then, I sold MORE stuff. Lemme just sing craigslist's praises for a sec. Yes, I do know that some shysters hang out there, and it is used for not-so-good things sometimes, but for me it has been an invaluable tool for getting all of the stuff I didn't need into good homes. There was an overwhelming response. So overwhelming in fact that people were getting mad because they came 5 minutes late for something that someone bought before they arrived. Oh well, not my problem! But anyway, what a great experience.

I have moved in with my other half, Brian, and moved all of the unneeded but keepable (is that a word?) stuff into my storage unit. It's easily accessible and even though it will need to be reorganized and thinned out, it's convenient if I need something from it. The move went smoothly although I do know that I hate moving, with a passion. Time consuming, confusing, and ultimately messy, but at least it's done and things in the condo look really cool.

I've completed all my studying for my personal trainer certification exam, and I've taken the practice quizzes and practice final exam. I didn't do so well on the practice quizzes. But I purposely took them with no review of the coursework. To see exactly what I retained and what I didn't. The results of the quizzes made me realize I had a lot of reviewing and a lot of re-reading to do. I took the final practice test last night, and though I passed it, I didn't pass with flying colors. So, I reviewed a bit last night. I re-read some of the course work. And I retook the practice quizzes today. I passed them ALL. I will retake the practice final exam tonight and hopefully I'll get a nice high score on it. Then, all I have to do is keep my nerves down enough so that I can take, and pass, the REAL exam tomorrow morning.

I've done all of this studying at an accelerated rate. ACE says that a person should take between 3 and 6 months to complete the course work and read the trainer manual. I did it all in about 8 weeks, and I read the trainer manual from cover to cover (550-something pages) in 4 weeks. It's basically a college text book, two columns per page, small type, etc. So...550 pages which is really more like 1000 pages in a regular book. OUCH. Kinda like reading a Harry Potter novel. I have learned a great deal, but I'm still very intimidated by the test. ULTRAintimidated!! I want to do well...but I'm nervous because, even though I know all this stuff, the test throws trick and confusing questions out there to mess you up. I have to be vigilant.

This weekend is also the Disney Marathon Weekend. I am excited and am planning on having a great time, no matter the outcome of my ACE exam. I am ready to run a marathon again, it seems like such a short distance now. I'm ready to attack the Disney course and finally have a top 5% finish there.