Hot, sexy fireman fantasy

We all have a preconceived notion that firefighters are naturally very fit and incredibly sexy. And while this may be true in some cases (ask me about my FDNY encounter of 2005), I've noticed more and more that the fire fighters I see tend to be larger, overweight men. Now, I'm not here to take up the battle on fitness and obesity- I'll leave that to the experts. But my boyfriend and I would had the observation that our local firefighters were a little less hot sexy fireman and a little more... unhealthy. We just thought it was a little ironic at first but then we began to increasingly wonder if there are existing physical requirements for fire fighters and wondered what type of danger their lack of physical fitness posed not only to themselves, but to the general public.

It reminded me of something a visiting army officer said to my class one day during graduate school. He was talking about the role of the military (which is a whole other blog) but said that his only concern was whether or not a 130 pound woman would be able to lift his wounded body of 200 pounds out of danger, should he become injured. Now again, I could go on and on about this but won't. But this type of similar thought crosses my mind every time I see an unhealthy looking firefighter (or cop for that matter).

I decided in my infinite boredom to look do some internet searching and see if there are physical requirements. I mean, I would imagine so, right? While I didn't get very far and now have to run off to work, I did see this gem of a quote in an article published in Fire Engineering.

Despite the fact that firefighters’ jobs require vigorous physical activity under extreme conditions and present the stress of urgent life-threatening situations, studies indicate a high prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, certain malignancies, and chronic musculoskeletal complaints. Firefighters generally have lower physical fitness than workers in other hazardous occupations, including police officers and construction workers.

Thoughts? Concerns?

High School Reunions

Ok so anyone that's known me for... well the past ten years, knows that I've always been uber excited about my impending ten year high school reunion. Yes, I was actually one of those girls that wanted to get dressed up and actually see people I was friends with (or not) ten years ago.

But now that the clock has struck 2010 and my ten year is upon me/the other 600 now adults I graduated with, I kinda find myself caring a little less. Ok, a lot less.

It suddenly dawned on me that I wasn't entirely sure why I was itching to go to my ten year reunion so much. Did I miss my best friends? Uh, didn't I just talk to them last week? I mean, sure I still have a few good friends from hs but my best friends are mostly the girls I lived with for four years in college or met in the dorms (Griffiths!!). Do I want to hear how everyone succeeded (or failed) in life? Do I actually care? I mean, I don't even know what half of my good friends do (it's the Chandler Bing problem)... why does it matter what people I used to know ten years ago do now? Do I want to see their families and kids? ABSOLUTELY not. Haha sorry but I just don't love kids. I don't make people hang out with my lovable and insanely cute puppy- don't make me hang out with your kids. I'm sure they're great and all. But no, this definitely isn't it.

Also, did I actually love high school? It's been ten years so my memory is a little skewed/gone at this point and I can't be certain.

Let's see... I managed to graduate with decent grades and go on to love school so much that I indebted myself $554654354 to be in school for SIX more years so... check. I must have enjoy classes.

I had awesome friends? Hmm come to think of it there were a few gems in the mix (including my PartnerInCrime that still gets me into trouble) but I also had some really crappy friends. That's the problem with being 14-18- most of us don't quite yet know how to be a good friend (let alone a decent person) so we'll give this one mixed reviews.

Did I win some cheerleading competition or was I a soccer star? That's a definite "X" (w/ sound effects ERRRRRRR). My mom wouldn't let me do sports and while I did win some ASB type of award, who remembers that?? But yes, I did have a blast on retreats and stomping my little heart out (sometimes on horse poo) but I always had this unrequited dream of being head cheerleader and dating the captain of the football team with blond hair and a name like Brad (you can thank Sweet Valley High books for this obsession). I think this is why I'm still obsessed with the sport of cheerleading despite the fact that I never became a pep filled, spanks wearing adolescent girl. How obsessed? I've seen all FOUR Bring It On movies. Multiple times. (head now hanging in shame). We'll give this category a half check (can I do that?).

After all that INSIGHTFUL and DEEP analysis, I'm still not sure if I loved high school or not. I mean, I did move first 500 miles away to the lush green campus of Cal and then clear across the country to get as away as possible from Temecula so I want to lean towards no but yet, my heart still wants to scream out YES I LOVED HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M NOT ASHAMED TO ADMIT IT.

But yet... I didn't? I don't know. I'm going to debate this for the next few months while I prep to join my class at our reunion (if it ever happens *ahem*). Part of it seems so pretentious to get dressed up and pack ourselves into a room with people we may or may not remember, pretending we care what we're all doing now and reminiscing about our high school years (which I swear is when I peaked) but it's done over and over every year by people eager to relive those four years if only for a short night... so there must be something to it right?

Today I Get to...

I have always considered myself to be an optimist. I generally always think things will work out in the end (they do) and the grass is always greener on my side (unless it's winter, and then no one's grass is green). But yesterday I read an article in my Runners World (of all places) that really struck a chord with me. The author talked about how their whole life is spent speaking in "I have to" language. I have to pick up the kids from school, I have to go to work, I have to make dinner. And somehow, somewhere (details escape me) she decided to try speaking out in another language, that of "I Get To."

I followed her train of thought and really got to thinking about how I also live my life in "I Have To." Yesterday I had to go to my day job and then my evening job (which if you know me, you know I don't like) and then had to squeeze in a work out to keep up with our 90 day plan. I kept dreading every minute of it until I thought of my RW magazine. And then I read this interview with the author of book called "A Thousand Sisters." The woman was so moved by an Oprah episode on the Congo, that she quit her job, left her life (including her fiance), raised $50,000 and went to go help women there. She told the story of a woman who had her leg cut off by a militia group just for not having enough money to please them.

Then I GOT it. I sat in my reclining chair in front of my huge flat screen monitor realizing that I GOT to go to work- I am so lucky to have two jobs when most people don't even have one (granted they're both temp jobs but that's not the point). And I GOT to go home and work out after my 14+ hour work day because I have two healthy legs to get me through life. I immediately got home and put in my plyometrics workout tape and got straight to it. By the time I was done, I didn't feel tired but energized and absurdly lucky.

When I woke up this morning- extra early to take my dog on her first pre-work day walk- my first thought was simple: I got to wake up today. And now I get to walk my puppy and start my day with her.

I can't tell you that I'm having a better or worse day because of this, but you know what, I'm convinced that over time, I Get To language will do so much more for me than I Have To. This may all sound terribly cheesy, I realize, but I wanted to share the thought with anyone that would listen. It's actually harder than I thought to think of everything in terms of I Get To, but I'm certain that over time, it will be such a natural thought and my glass will be more than just half full.