random RL post
Nov. 10th, 2008 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
floatingleafSo, just like surreysmum had predicted, the cause for my sencond visit to the INS headquarters was 'minor and absurdly bureaucratic'. Namely, in one place on the document confirming my newly acquired citizen status and name change, I had printed out my old name instead of the new one, and the officer didn't notice until after I had left. And that is why she had to call me in for another appointment, I had to take four hours off work, take a ride downtown etc.etc.etc. Because I needed to fix my signature. Bureaucracy RULES, I tell you. *headshake* But while I was there, it ocurred to me to inquire about the date of my oath of allegiance appointment - and the officer told me that if I waited about 30 minutes, they would have my appointment letter ready and hand it to me right then, instead of sending it by mail. So I did (it was still early, and I wasn't expected at work until after lunch anyway). And I am scheduled for next Wednesday. Which will hopefully be my final visit to the INS (unless I sign something in the wrong place again... LOL). So I would appreciate kind thoughts and crossed fingers, especially when it comes to the weather being tolerable. Today was blessedly sunny, so the walk to the train station and back wasn't too bad despite the biting cold - but it's the middle of November, and for all we know, next week there might be snowstorms. *knocks on wood*
In other totally unrelated news, I followed my chiropractor's recommendations and bought myself a balance ball. Actually, I bought a whole exercise kit with a resistance band and two instruction DVDs. So I've been torturing myself with it over the weekend... lol. And I have to say the exercises are actually fun - invigorating, but not exhausting, which in my case is a very good thing (I tend to give up pretty quickly whenever something feels like too much of a challenge ;P). I feel pleasantly stretched for the most part - except in the abdominal area, which, as of today, hurts with every move. But that's probably because I'd never really given those muscles a proper workout before, and they are in a state of shock.:D Somehow, whenever I try to do an abs workout, I end up going VERY easy on it, because that part of my body simply doesn't WANT to cooperate. I start whining and groaning after a few minutes, and then I basically give up. But the balance ball exercises seemed so unobtrusive that I actually managed to trick my body into believing they didn't require much effort at all. And now I know they did - I just didn't seem to feel it at the time (but boy, do I feel it now!... *groans*). Even though I should have known that some of them might be a bit much for a beginner. Especially that one massive stretch where you place your lower back against the ball and reach your arms down over your head until they touch the floor. It seemed so relaxing... but that's probably where I overstretched a bit. For the first time in my life, I am distinctly aware that I have a diaphragm.:P
And that is all my fascinating news for tonight.;)
surreysmum had predicted, the cause for my sencond visit to the INS headquarters was 'minor and absurdly bureaucratic'. Namely, in one place on the document confirming my newly acquired citizen status and name change, I had printed out my old name instead of the new one, and the officer didn't notice until after I had left. And that is why she had to call me in for another appointment, I had to take four hours off work, take a ride downtown etc.etc.etc. Because I needed to fix my signature. Bureaucracy RULES, I tell you. *headshake* But while I was there, it ocurred to me to inquire about the date of my oath of allegiance appointment - and the officer told me that if I waited about 30 minutes, they would have my appointment letter ready and hand it to me right then, instead of sending it by mail. So I did (it was still early, and I wasn't expected at work until after lunch anyway). And I am scheduled for next Wednesday. Which will hopefully be my final visit to the INS (unless I sign something in the wrong place again... LOL). So I would appreciate kind thoughts and crossed fingers, especially when it comes to the weather being tolerable. Today was blessedly sunny, so the walk to the train station and back wasn't too bad despite the biting cold - but it's the middle of November, and for all we know, next week there might be snowstorms. *knocks on wood*In other totally unrelated news, I followed my chiropractor's recommendations and bought myself a balance ball. Actually, I bought a whole exercise kit with a resistance band and two instruction DVDs. So I've been torturing myself with it over the weekend... lol. And I have to say the exercises are actually fun - invigorating, but not exhausting, which in my case is a very good thing (I tend to give up pretty quickly whenever something feels like too much of a challenge ;P). I feel pleasantly stretched for the most part - except in the abdominal area, which, as of today, hurts with every move. But that's probably because I'd never really given those muscles a proper workout before, and they are in a state of shock.:D Somehow, whenever I try to do an abs workout, I end up going VERY easy on it, because that part of my body simply doesn't WANT to cooperate. I start whining and groaning after a few minutes, and then I basically give up. But the balance ball exercises seemed so unobtrusive that I actually managed to trick my body into believing they didn't require much effort at all. And now I know they did - I just didn't seem to feel it at the time (but boy, do I feel it now!... *groans*). Even though I should have known that some of them might be a bit much for a beginner. Especially that one massive stretch where you place your lower back against the ball and reach your arms down over your head until they touch the floor. It seemed so relaxing... but that's probably where I overstretched a bit. For the first time in my life, I am distinctly aware that I have a diaphragm.:P
And that is all my fascinating news for tonight.;)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-11 11:26 pm (UTC)Isn't it funny how new forms of exercise can fool you like that? :D Hope your abs recover soon.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-11-12 02:08 am (UTC)Hope your abs recover soon.
I hope so too. Right now it still hurts when I bend down or lean back in my chair. It hurts to laugh. It hurts to sneeze. Dammit! *grumbles*
I so fail at this whole physical activity thing. I either don't do anything at all for weeks (finding one excuse after another), or suddenly get the idea that I should make up for the lost time, and then overdo it. And then, of course, I need a break to recover, so... well, I'm sure you get the picture. *sigh*