It's time to Run...

A marathon that is...

Well I decided that I'm going to run in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego on June 1.

I'm got a full plate, but I think this will be extremely rewarding and there is no better feeling than setting a goal and accomplishing it. Not to mention it's for a great cause.

Click on this link to donate and help me reach my goal.

http://www.active.com/donate/tntgla/tntglaMGilber

I will continue to blog my thoughts and now my progress with the training.

Where I work.

So here is a picture of where I spend 8 hours of my day... The glorioius cube life at MTV. Not as fancy as the Real World house right?


I did some homework last night... Surprised? Yeah, me too! I read my first complete chapter EVER in a textbook. Yes that's right, I graduated from OSU without ever reading a complete chapter of a textbook. I'm going to equate that to being smart and not a bad student...haha.

Grad school seems like it may be a bit different... I'm enjoying it so far. I have a paper due tomorrow. Anyone wanna make some extra money writing this paper for me? What? That only worked in undergad?? Haha. I'm kidding...kind of.

So this is where I work. I like it! I'm going to run the Santa Monica Stairs after work. They are pretty intense. I will post a picture of the stairs tomorrow. I ran them on Saturday and yesterday was the first day my legs weren't sore anymore.

I've also just started on my second 1.5L bottle of water. I've had to pee like 33 times too.

Oh wait!!! I forgot to tell everyone what happened yesterday at my so called Prison. I was about to get on the elevator here at MTV and the doors open up and you wouldn't believe who walked out with her entourage. Any guesses??? JANET JACKSON! I was floored. I just stared as she and her entourage exited the elevator. That was a pretty big celebrity sighting. She had glasses on and a very solemn look on her face. But I must say she was very attractive and from what I could tell she was in pretty good shape. So that made the afternoon at work exciting. So when things like that happen around the office, it makes it a good day!

Back to work...

Just Beachin'

After an eventful Saturday, I figured I should make Sunday the same... I woke up early and went to the gym, then headed to church, then went to the beach! It was a beautiful weekend in Santa Monica, so I had to be outside. A friend of mine from OSU came over and we all walked down to the beach and just sat on a bench and people watched. There is some great people watching in California. This picture doesn't really do the day justice.

Back at work today and wishing I was still sitting at the beach. I struggled to get out of bed this morning. There is a place called the "Santa Monica Stairs." It's very LA. Haha. It's basically all of these steep stairs that wind up a hill. People go and run and walk the stairs. It's funny because you have all these people doing the stairs. Sometimes I think people go to be seen...but then there are those of us that actually go to work out. Well long story short... I ran the stairs on Saturday and having a hard time walking today. My legs are so sore.

Well I just had my green tea for the morning, so hopefully I will wake up a bit.

I start class this week and it looks like it might be a little tougher than I expected. Santa Monica Library and I are going to be best buds.

Passion for more than a cause...

I went and volunteered for the Barack Obama campaign today. I've never volunteered for a political campaign... but I guess I've never been this passionate about a candidate either.

What was amazing was to see the amount of people that packed this small auditorium in the Santa Monica library to learn how they could help make a difference.

We are all volunteering because we trust Barack and are passionate that he can bring some unity to this broken country.

I want to see some barriers broken. I will admit that it has become personal to me. I received an email today from someone who I will not mention their name. But it bashed Barack and called him a racist and made false accusations about his religion or upbringing as a child. It just really upset me.

Isn't it time that we stop name calling and pointing fingers. I mean as cliche as it sounds... We are all Americans! and take it a step further. We are all people. Take away our skin color, gender, religion, we all bleed the same color. You have to walk in someone shoes before you understand where they have been. Well I remember what it's like to feel like you weren't accepted because your skin was a little darker than the other kids or adults.

And I'm not trying to make this a race thing because I don't think that is what it should be about at all.

But we should begin to think about what it really means to be an American and that right now we are in the middle of an election that embodies the true American dream. We have a woman, a black man, a mormon all trying to become the next President of this country. Only in America... that is something to be proud of and we should unite together to truly overcome our differences to work together to make this world better.

I don't care who you vote for... but support someone. Have passion for something... Have the hope and faith that change is possible!

P.S. I also went to a Hip Hop class today and it was a lot of fun. Beautiful day in Santa Monica!

Tastes like French Fries

Eating healthy isn't easy... I'm amazed that we can send a man to the moon, but we can't get carrots to taste like French Fries. I know that sounds crazy...but think about it. With as advanced as we are you would think that we could create something that is really healthy but tastes exactly like In N Out Burger's fries.

I only bring up this point because I've been on my health kick again. I don't like to call it a "health kick"...but lets be honest here. I actually am in a fitness challenge 2008. My best friend from high school and I made a bet of who could be in the best shape by March 8. I'm going to win... I work out regularly already, but it just gave me some extra motivation to eat better and have harder workouts.

So today, I was craving a burger and french fries...but opted for some vegetable soup and a piece of fruit. I'll have my 2nd protein shake of the day which I'll pretend is a big bowl of ice cream too.

The good news in all this is that I'm getting ripped. Haha. I look forward to my workouts after work.

Tomorrow is Friday and I couldn't be happier. I'm sitting at work right now in a daze trying to worry about today but drifting into tomorrow, next week, and next year.

Focus on the now! Well that was a good break from work to do a little blogging.

Oh one more thing... Whatever happened to the piece of gum that was suppose to be a three course meal?? Remember that in Willy Wonka? Violet ate the gum that tasted like steak and mashed potatos and then blueberry pie.

Come on people... Haha.

A Defeat... But Not Defeated!

Tonight didn't work out for us in New Hampshire. I have to admit that I really thought Barack was going to pull it off. The race tightens and gives me even more anxiety...

But we have a long race ahead of us... It isn't over.

It got me thinking about how we react when faced with adversity. It's always easier when we are on top and I think that is true with our lives as well.

Well I ordered my books and I start my first grad class next Monday. I have orientation tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to the classes and I hope i can balance school and work at the same time. Who am I kidding? I'll be fine! Haha.

I decided to be social tonight. I had dinner with some old co workers from NYC. They all live in LA now as well. We all use to work at NBC together. I felt bad because the television was on MSNBC and I was completely distracted by the results of the primary. But it was good to see them. It's good to know you have a few friends in this big crazy city.

Last night my neighbor Charlotte made steaks for my roommate and I. They were really awesome and it was fun just sitting back and chatting over a glass of wine.

I think I often underestimate the people in my life. I have some really good relationships here in LA and I don't want to take them forgranted. Remember a few months ago when I decided to start living for the "right now". Well it's time for a refresher course in that... If you spend too much time thinking about tomorrow, you will miss out on today. Now that isn't some deep philosophy...just a simple truth.

This sounds dumb... but I'm kind of looking forward to spending some time at the Santa Monica Library. I'm sure I will do some studying there.

Everytime I hear Barack speak he makes me want to try and change the world. Regardless of who gets the nomination he has touched the lives of many people and inspired them with his messages of hope and change. He has inspired me!

I'm just one vote... Hope is never false and words DO matter! Hope and words inspire people to make change.

Word for the year CHANGE! Everybody's using it. Haha! LOL!

Good Night.

A New Year

Happy New Year!

So far things are looking good in 2008. I spent New Year's in Dallas with some close friends. I really enjoy getting to spend time with my friends. I did a lot of traveling over the holidays and it was good to get back to LA and relax a bit. Of course, I wasn't looking forward to going back to work...but what can you do.

Good News... I was accepted to Gonzaga University! This was really great news to start my year off with. I will be pursuing a Masters of Arts in Communication and Leadership Studies. I'm looking to start my first class next week. Kind of scary and exciting all at the same time.

I've spent a great deal of time following the presidential debates and primaries. It was a huge victory for Barack Obama to win Iowa. I'm hoping he can pull off another win in New Hampshire on Tuesday. I watched all four hours of the debates last night and enjoyed every minute of it. I think this election is such an important election and I'm so excited to be a part of it.

Barack's win in Iowa was a truly historical night for many reasons... If he can win New Hampshire, I think he will be the democractic nominee, which makes me so excited. I've been a Barack supporter every since he was elected as a Senator.

I could go on and on... but I will not.

I'm began a pretty hardcore workout again. All of the holiday eating kind of put a kink in my health kick I've been on... So back to the gym and eating properly.

I've been bad about blogging lately. I've been in a pretty good place though lately. I think the recharge of friends and family really helped me out. I'm looking forward to some great things ahead in my future. I'm not sure what they are just yet... but I know they are there.

But I'm a grad student!!! Wow!