tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67704554437564456832024-03-06T01:50:19.618-06:00experienceups, downs, questions, and hopes.asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-16772358174673524772015-01-01T23:15:00.002-06:002015-01-01T23:15:36.101-06:00Photo ProjectI'm starting my photo project again - not as a new years resolution, but because I want to and today is a good day to start. I don't have any resolutions, but do hope to get some good trail races in this year.
January's photo theme is First Impressions, as I'm learning how important and powerful they really are.
Today's photo is from the run Laura and I went on this evening. I asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-75569952580099261642014-03-27T21:38:00.003-05:002014-03-27T21:38:40.996-05:00What I've Learned About Suburban Homelessness Today marks two years that I’ve been working specifically with youth who are homeless or are precariously housed.
Here are some of the major things I have learned:
1. Youth homelessness happens for all kinds of reasons which might include:
Parent(s) or Guardian(s) do not have the resources to keep you safe/housed.
Mom’s boyfriend doesn't like you.
You're turning 18, so asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-40968279728085086562013-09-10T17:40:00.004-05:002013-09-10T17:40:42.015-05:00Run With MeLiterally. Run with me.
I'm supposed to be running Twin Cities 10 mile race on October 6th, and so far, my training has been minimal. While trying to live a minimalist lifestyle at home (and failing), such an attitude cannot be transferred to my workout regimen (or lack thereof).
I used to like to run. I guess I still do, but I'm having a hard time getting into it consistentlyasha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-34841347914185565252013-09-09T23:01:00.002-05:002013-09-09T23:01:51.127-05:00I Want To Get AwayI want to get away.... to some place where not only is the grass green, but dammit, there is grass and plants and flowers and all of it. I want to get away and see the mountains. I want to get away from traffic, drunk people leaving the bar, guys with small member syndrome who ride obnoxiously loud motorcycles. I want to get away. I want to get away to a place where I can asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-61675309863758234402013-02-24T12:29:00.002-06:002013-02-24T20:39:33.622-06:00Things to Know Before SurgeryAdvice to my friends dad, and anyone else having shoulder/elbow surgery:
1. You likely won't be able to put a shirt on over your head for a while. Have lots of button ups. Get new ones if you need, especially as the weather is cold these days.
1a. I wore a lot of halter dresses, which was nice, because I didn't have to move my arm hardly at all to get them on. I'm asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-5747412882781645892012-11-04T15:06:00.004-06:002012-11-04T15:39:44.243-06:00A Letter to my Conservative Friends -- All 4 of you
Dear super conservative/religious friends (there are 4 of you I can think of off hand),
The election is in 2 days, and I know you will vote yes to keep the definition of marriage between a woman and a man. If you voted no, it wouldn't affect you. In fact, it wouldn't affect me much either, not yet anyway.
I don't anticipate change your "yes vote" to a "no vote,"asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-7141160831292875942012-10-21T21:14:00.004-05:002012-10-21T21:15:59.302-05:00Allergies
Most days, I have stomach aches. They are more uncomfortable than painful, but I will say that after feeling like crap days on end...it can take it's emotional toll.
Yesterday I took some enzymes at lunch. I went to an apple orchard afterwords and wasn't feeling well. I sat outside for a bit, and when it was time to go, I was super itchy! My legs, my arms, my back, my asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-39824623350957413552012-10-20T21:58:00.001-05:002012-10-20T21:59:20.618-05:00ReboundsLittle kids rebound better than Rebekah Bronson.
I'm hanging out with two little ones this weekend and its amazing to me that at one moment they are sad/crying/being kids...and within 30 seconds they can be happy/smiling/on top of the world!
In this way, I wish I were like a little kid. I wish I was able to forgive easier, and get over bad moods faster.
We can learn a lot from kids. We asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-595395250281991692012-10-19T23:48:00.001-05:002012-10-19T23:48:19.283-05:0017 minutes. I have 17 minutes till I can post this blog for it to count for today. Went on a haunted pub crawl... Quote of the night from a 48 year old lady on the pub crawl bus--- "don't drive too fast, we're playing quarters on the floor."
Keeping it real. Will write more tomorrow. Lots to tell.asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-27630497336553411972012-10-18T20:15:00.000-05:002012-10-18T20:15:20.269-05:00Type A
I like to classify my sister and my ladyfriend as "Type A" people. Me... I'm more "relaxed, I just go with the flow." Hmmm... or am I?I don't go to sleep at the same time each night (unless "late" is a time), nor do I wake up at the same time. Sometimes I sleep in pajamas, other times my clothes, and when I'm feeling hot (which could mean several things)... I'll sleep in my asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-6474981105708425122012-10-17T22:42:00.002-05:002012-10-17T22:42:12.379-05:00My Baby Blanket
I don't remember if I had a baby blanket, but I'd be willing to bet I did.
It's one of those things that you carry with you when you are scared. It's one of those things you tote along side you when you don't want to feel alone.
I'm 28 now. No time for baby blankets.
Instead, my material security (literally) comes in the form of old t-shirts and pajama shirts.
asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-61191266512985296762012-10-17T00:48:00.000-05:002012-10-17T00:48:17.047-05:00Why Physical Therapy is Important
Three months ago, I had shoulder surgery. They repaired a torn labrum, and cut a bunch of tendons and put anchors in them. For the next 6 weeks, I spent my time in an immobilizer. I wore it every day, even to sleep in. When I was told I could get rid of the immobilizer, I did. My arm was essentially stuck. The ball and socket of my shoulder had calcified, asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-30523823094295270052012-10-15T20:29:00.001-05:002012-10-15T20:29:37.885-05:00The Hurried Hungry Post
I rushed home tonight to write a blog before going back out again, because I thought I had made it a goal to write every day this week. Come to find out... I was more vague.
I often post weekly goals on Facebook on Mondays. I rarely meet these goals, yet I still think it's good to have them. See this weeks' below:Goals for the week: 1. Run 4x 2. Lift weights 3x 3. asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-30583541792176677882012-10-14T14:29:00.002-05:002012-10-14T14:29:59.690-05:003 Months LaterI'm guilty of not writing in my blog for the last 3 months. For half of that time, I was in an immobilizer, which made typing (and everything else) tough. The last 6+ weeks though, I have no excuse.
Each week, I write a list of goals. One for this following week will be to write in my blog everyday (for the week). I have a lot of catching up to do.
I tend to write the asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-1912690365568094712012-07-08T21:02:00.001-05:002012-07-08T21:14:25.534-05:00What I Need
It was probably about a year ago when I wrote a post about "what I need." In fact, it may have actually been called that, but this time around, it's for different reasons. Way different.
It's Sunday evening, and I'm sitting at home alone after a wonderful weekend of visiting an old friend... literally old...she's 89. (See photos).
Ardes and I in front of her garden. &asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-39789699395191880162012-06-14T16:49:00.002-05:002012-06-14T16:55:39.350-05:00One Month
Damn, not even a month. I'm scheduled to have surgery on my shoulder on July 12th. I decided this yesterday, and I'm freaking out. Okay....maybe not freaking out, but I'm one small step behind freaking out.
This weekend is Gramma's Half Marathon. I ran it a few years ago, and was supposed to run it again this year, but I've gotten myself injured. asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-69922349354300490772012-05-26T11:03:00.003-05:002012-05-26T11:03:52.930-05:00Bad Dreams, Good Lessons
Last winter, I had a heart to heart with a friend of mine, in which I told him that I often feel like I'm waiting for something bad to happen, so that I am forced to make positive changes in my life. I of course don't want anything bad to happen, but it just happens to work out that when someone in my life leaves...I go into flight or fight response (?) and get all excited about getting asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-56247079516890869782012-05-09T09:10:00.001-05:002012-05-09T09:42:26.829-05:00That Gut-Checking-Midwestern-Woman
Occasionally, I'm out and about and see a woman who I get that "feeling in the gut." There can be 2 kinds of feelings.... one is a "Oooh damn, she's hot." The other is, "Ohhh damn, she's sweet." Now, a note to the hot women who are also sweet...I'm not saying you can't have one and not the other...just stick with me on this.
There's a certain woman who gives me that asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-90636002864366379322012-05-01T20:09:00.002-05:002012-05-01T20:09:57.956-05:00What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger
Lets hope, huh?
So...it's May 1st today. It's weird to think that four months have already happened this year. And minus getting a new job, and meeting some cool people, this year has kind of sucked.
I've been listening to a lot of new music lately....on one playlist...on repeat. Go figure. The last week or so, it's been a lot of female pop/rock artists singing "asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-6466317177421685822012-04-30T21:13:00.001-05:002012-04-30T21:15:33.531-05:0030 Day of Biking Completed!
I did it. I said.... I DID IT!! I set out to ride my bike every day in the month of April, and get this....I did it. Feels kind of good. It was much less of a physical challenge than it sounds (as some days, I merely rode around the block). It was however a challenge and test of discipline and time management. I like challenges like this.... ones that are asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-79867957706768537592012-04-02T10:01:00.000-05:002012-04-02T10:01:27.606-05:0030 Days of Biking
There's this online challenge to ride your bike everyday in the month of April. I've decided to do it. You can find out more HERE.
The idea is to ride everyday, and distance doesn't matter. The part I don't really understand is how you report it. The instructions say to share it online...but does that mean a quick one liner about where I went? Or a photo? Or asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-84705180589971645072012-04-02T09:36:00.000-05:002012-04-02T09:36:11.787-05:000.03 Percent Update
I spoke with a (teacher) friend about my most recent blog post. "Do you think I'm a jerk?" I asked her. She said no. I asked what she would have done if in my shoes...
I would have said "Well, we better get you signed up for a lot of basketball teams then, because it's going to take a lot of practice to play pro basketball," she told me. She also told me that to be an "asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-46880806994487376302012-03-23T12:45:00.002-05:002012-03-23T12:57:29.979-05:000.03 Percent
I walked into a classroom the other day, and there wasn't much going on.
I sat down and talked to a few kids, who were listening to music or playing on their phones.
"What do you want to be when you grow up" I asked, feeling kind of salty for raising such a generic question.
"A Physical Therapist" one kid said. "Eeeew," giggled a few. "You know they have to go 'down there.'"&asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-67412096758284403692012-03-20T20:57:00.001-05:002012-03-20T21:03:13.968-05:00What Today Looked Like
Most weeks, I try to make a list of goals. Usually...I fall a bit short of reaching them, but still, I start with good intentions.
These are this weeks goals (as posted on facebook yesterday morning):
1. workout/run 5 times
2. do some kind of ab/core workout 6 times
3. meditate twice
4. write/journal everyday
5. eat well (3 meals + snacks)
6. have a conversation with a strangerasha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770455443756445683.post-64752708179831080492012-02-14T22:43:00.001-06:002012-02-14T22:44:56.463-06:00February 14, 2012 22:14
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It’s closing in on the end of my 27th year. I feel like I’m unprepared for this transition. I’ve been wicked busy, in a good way, I think… but unprepared nonetheless.
Each year, I feel like asha shoffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06396168382282358494noreply@blogger.com1