I Am a Color: Color Me Rad 5K Run

Today, I am a color. There are many different variations of me: red, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue. You can even go further: turquoise, fuchsia, lavender, etc.

I went to my very first 5k run on Saturday and, although I didnt get a time out of it, I enjoyed just jogging with my friends throughout the whole run. While I 'trained' (which consist of Insanity, some Hip Hop Abs, and random exercises), I was able to finish 5k in 30minutes, which to me, is pretty good considering I was someone where, if you first saw me, you wouldnt expect me to do any exercise.

The run I went for is known as Color Me Rad, a run where part of the proceeds go towards Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto (since I joined the T. dot division). The point behind Color Me Rad was simple, run the 5k, and at each kilometre, people get to throw color bombs at you! At first I was a bit hesitant in joining. I didnt mind doing the run, but getting covered with paint/ colored corn starch wasnt exactly what I really had in mind when I have to pay 50 +. Anyway, I'm glad I joined, because Color Me Rad was something that I'll love to do again (if I have the chance to), and maybe do the run faster so that I can enjoy the freebies and everything the event offers.

After the fun run, the only thing we did was line up for the group photos. This part was a drag, because our line became a mesh of people and I'm sure people cut in line but we didnt notice. It took us probably almost an hour waiting, so we missed the other events. All in all though, being with friends and meeting new people on my team was great. We ended up taking random pictures and I finally got to participate in a human pyramid (and being at the top too).

Taking part in this run made me realize that nothing is impossible. I have to admit, though, that I should I can do 5K in 20 minutes, but when I read a blog where some guy who loves working out finished a 5K run in 24, I knew 20 was .... perhaps out of my league. When I was able to finish the 5K in 30 (during training), I was proud. Doing the actual run, although I think I went slower than I expected, made me want to run more. I wasnt short of breath, nor did I stop throughout the whole thing. I've become a healthier person, which was my goal to begin with, and thats why I joined this run, to prove to myself and push myself forward with exercising and becoming more fit.

I wish I got splashed with nicer colors though, I was pretty much pink (and maybe some orange, then we added yellow and green, which looked like puke). What else? I confirmed how short I really was as my tee

Today, I am a Color. You might love me, you might hate me, but everyone has a favourite. If you cant decide, thats okay, because there's a lot more of me to share than you think :).

TeaC101

I Am an Allergy

Today, I am an allergy. I appear because the immune cells inside of your body, you know, those that try to fight off diseases and germs, recognizes a harmless foreign molecule as harmful.They'll start compiling a number of cells to attack the foreign particle and create an 'allergic' reaction (e.g. hives, rashes, shortness of breath). I'm nasty, I know.

Last night I was doing some simple exercises (Hip Hop Abs by Shaun T, pretty fun but not enough cardio/workout for me sadly) when suddenly, in the middle of the workout (and most likely after I drank my cup of water) I started feeling itchy. As I thought it might've just been because my clothes were slightly dirty and maybe it rubbed off onto my skin and infect it, I realized my hands started to itch. I didnt want to stop in between my workout, so I tried to not think about it and continue to the end. After, I realized my leg was itchy, my face was starting to swell a bit, and damn I just needed something to  calm it down.

So I quickly went up and showered. It felt nice, but the itch didnt go away. At that point I knew it wasnt because my workout clothes were dirty (yes it took me this long). I stepped out of the shower and realized that my face was all red, some pimple like bumps in some areas on my face and throughout my body. It was horrifiying, I looked super gross and just.... I couldnt look myself in the mirror!

I took a Reactin and it slowly calmed down and I went to sleep.

The feeling was horrible, but it wasnt the worst. The only thing troubling me is what caused the itch/reaction. I'm blaming the water, but its not like I'm allergic to that. Maybe something was in my cup that caused it to just... i dont know, it was sad.

My worst allergic reaction, I must say, was from eating walnuts. In the past I would only have an itchy throat, but one day, at the HAIR SALON (basement of someone's house), the hair desser decided to treat me to her own baked walnut cookies. Here starts my very first intense allergic reaction. My immune system decided it was time to recognize walnuts as 'harmful' and started attacking. Itchy throat, red all over, vomitting, it was horrible. Not to mention I was dying my hair! (We thought it was the hairdye but I knew it wasnt).

All in all, allergic reactions are the worst, I feel so sad to be one of the victims, but luckily (and I knock on wood because I dont want it to happen) I'm not allergic to peanuts because I love them. :)

Today, I am an allergy. I make you feel miserable and you dont like me, but I'm trying to do is help you. :(

TeaC101

I Am a Moon Suit

Today, I am a moon suit. Fine okay, I'm a disposable one so I'm only worn once and no one cares about me anymore, but I'm protective outerwear that can prevent you from getting injured (and from getting equipment covered with your filthy little hands) Dont I make you look beautiful?



Today I wore a disposable moonsuit so I can help validate some equipment in production. As a coop student, I love getting to get as much experience as possible, even if it is getting all funky and hilarious looking. I remember the first time I had the opportunity, I didnt because someone from production said that he didnt want me to get hurt (climbing is involved). So he quickly put on the suit and did it instead. Today, however, I got the chance to put it on, and - as stupid as this may sound - I enjoyed it.

1. I felt important. I knew I was going to get down and dirty (well in this case....clean...?) and as long as I know I've contributed to an important validation process, I'm content with my job.
2. You wont randomly buy a disposable moon suit just to wear and then throw out. There's no excuse to try it on either. This time was the perfect opportunity (without sounding stupid... and I probably sound like now).

Besides the moon suit, I had to wear shoe covers and lab coat (and other things that's needed to keep clean) and that was a hassle. Because I'm a coop student, the lab coats were best if we didnt need to hem/adjust the fitting. Luckily, an XS was still short enough for the 5 feet me that the coat didnt dangle while I walked. Another good fact was that there's a bit of a heel to my shoes, giving me a slight boost with height.

Can you imagine now annoying it is then? My lab coat had to be pulled to my waist area (since the pant area wont fit my long labcoat as it doesnt split into two parts). It was also a hassle to put on another bootie when I already had shoe covers (my moon suit was slightly different in the sense that it had shoe covers connected to the suit)

Sadly I didnt take any pictures because it's not allowed. I didnt even know how I really looked in the suit, but I'm sure it was funny looking.

Metaphor today? umm..... It doesnt matter how you look on the outside, its the inside that counts. In other words, never judge a book by its cover. Even though you look funny in this disposable piece of fabric, you're putting it on to accomplish something that cannot be done without it (or else the equipment would be contaminated prior to validation). Remember that life is fair (in a way), if something doesnt look good, there's always a reason for it. Think about it and you'll find the answer.

Today, I am a (disposable) moon suit. I protect you but I also make you look funny. You got to love me for that.

I Am a Problem

Today, I am a problem. These days or these past few months or past year.... however long I can take it back, I've been having many problems. Each year seems to be slightly different, and as much as we all want to focus on the happy, the sad always takes over. Its like the sky if you may: the sun is always there, but once a raincloud comes along, it covers the sun, and regardless of how strong it shines, rain clouds prevents the light rays from shining through, thereby blocking all light that might be present.

I dont really have a problem today (at least not yet and I hope itll stay like this), but I always end up thinking about something that can make me upset.

Over the next few days, I think I might have some depressing posts. Or another way of putting it, blog posts about what I think about my life, the people around it, and how we all think there's a problem thats severe, yet when you really think about it, my problem is only rated a 1 compared to what person A is feeling. and person A might have similar conflicts as person B, but person B might've experienced more of it.

In the end, there's always someone thats just... a little bit more.

How does that work though? Who's going to top off the person with the most 'a little bit more'?

No one knows.

TeaC101