Dear Reader I am moving

Here is my new blog address:

www.internationalcommunicator.blogspot.com

Get stuff done at home too!

This week (in the heat) we have been doing work on the apartment we bought as an investment last year that we now want to rent out. We emptied it out, tore down the stinky wallpaper, and are now painting it and getting it just so for some lucky renter.

We did all of this work in lightning speed compared to how long it has taken us to get the house we live in into decent shape.

Actually, to be fair, our apartment is fine, liveable, could use a fresh coat of paint, but it's cute anyway. That's not the problem. It's those little (and not so little) things that we have been talking about doing (or finishing) for years that sit there until we don't notice them anymore. Like the cupboard door in the kitchen that we got a replacement for (3 years ago? Has it been that long?)because the laminate started to peel off. Haven't installed that yet. The filter in the bathroom faucet that is down to a trickle (a 50 cent repair if you ask me), the bathroom we said we would remodel ten years ago, the shower curtain (we have a new one) with the broken loops that looks so dumpy.  

I made a list of all of those things and am going to tackle them one by one. I hung it on the fridge, which means that husband sees it too. While we definitely aren't going to redo the bathroom anytime soon, at least we can think about changing the little things as they come up.

In fact, as soon as the other place is rented, I am going to pretend that we are renting our main apartment out too, just to see what it motivates me to do for us.

Besides Training I am also Opening a Business in the US

I know what you're thinking. You don't tell us anything. Well, I do, it just sometimes takes me longer because of those gnawing moments of self doubt.

Well, today I am feeling great so I feel like I can divulge. It will be me, my friend Klementina, and my brother, Ed. See, Klementina and I help small and medium companies go international by taking care of their international communications and Press Office. We also go to trade fairs with them and sneak around to check out the competition and set up meetings with journalists, potential partners, and clients. Ed is a professional illustrator and works with Ad agencies, etc.

I have wanted to do something in the States for a long time now. I even wrote a business plan a year ago to do this very thing. I thought, what better business card could we have than the experience of actually becoming an international company ourselves?! But I was too afraid. That's why I didn't even tell you about it. I thought you would make fun of me (but you wouldn't do that, would you?)

Then, fast forward to June. I was on my way back to Italy from a great two weeks with family and friends and I realized that what I really wanted to do was work with my twin brother. So BINGO. We are finally making it happen.

Turns out my fear was of what I didn't know, but it paralysed me into not doing the research I needed to do to get over it. Hmmf!

About the time I started getting my training life together, I decided that I could put the rest of my life in order too. I started taking care of my house differently, and finishing other tasks rather than putting them off. I decided to be one of those people who can do a million things WELL.

I started reading sites like sba.gov to get info on opening a business in America. I started asking questions and making appointments with friends and my accountant here. The more I asked around and read, the easier everything seemed. Cheaper, too! I guess just about anywhere in the world is cheaper to work than Italy.

So that is the news. Yes, I am still running the Association. Yes, it is doing much better than it has in the last thirty years. It is not completely failure proof yet, but it is a joy to run it now, as every day brings new members, volunteers, and ideas.

And, finally, I feel like this experience is one that I will take with me in all of my new adventures. Modelling my favourite successful people I realize that I can continue with the Association and let it complement my other work. That is a huge victory.   

It only took three weeks!

Finally I had a great running day yesterday. It was hot, yes, but I find that running is the best cure for that. You still feel hot, of course, but at least you sweat for a Real Reason.

There were moments where I felt like I was running on hot coals because I could feel the heat from the cement around my ankles. But I didn't care. I felt cool, I felt tough, I felt like I could run all day if I wanted to.

And it had been a loooooong time since I felt like that. I can't wait to get out there again.

Today's Training Dud

No bike and no run today, all because of a childcare blooper. Oh well. Tomorrow I will bring my running shoes with me even if I have to leave my bike at home. No biggy.

Here is what is different this time

Two days in to Week two of fake marathon training I realize that everything is different this time.

1. I am on a better overall diet. I am a vegetarian, don't eat wheat. Drink (a little) less.
Result: I am about the same starting weight as last time, but I feel much less mushy and bloated.
2. It's the first time I am actually cross-training (riding a bike).
Result: I feel stronger every day and my stride has changed because I am developing muscles I didn't use much in the past.
3. There are no real marathons around when I will be ready for one.
Result: no pressure. Training is just about following directions on a piece of paper. No money is at stake if I don't meet my goal, I can repeat weeks if I feel like it, etc.
4. I have been through labor.
Result: Unless something is broken, all pain has a beginning, middle and an end.  I run or pedal right through it. I am less wimpy.

The shoes, well those are the same as last time, but they seem to be holding up well, and now I can duct-tape them if they don't.

Thanks Denise!

Can't wait to try this out on my ailing shoes!