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!

Week two is off to a great start

I love Hal Higdon. Especially Mondays. REST DAY. What a great way to start the week! I've been good about my training. Am on my bike a lot and doing my running.

I have gained two kilos over the last week. Here is what the internet says about that. It is because:

a) Muscle weighs more than fat.
b) I am compensating for that extra fat burning by eating more food.
c) My body is afraid it might starve and so it's going into preservation mode.
d) I skip breakfast most days.
e) I have erratic sleeping patterns.
f) I have body clutter issues.
g) I ate pizza the other day and wheat is the enemy.

In short, it is ANNOYING and UNFAIR, period.

But I will not let that stop me. Today is day two of week two of fake marathon training. 3 miles.
So be it.

About the shoes

The real problem is that I can't find any American-strength duct tape over here. Friends, if you come to visit me, please bring me some! The back end of the left shoe has stuffing sticking out everywhere and it is Killing my a-Kill-es.

Anyway, it is FRIDAY and I have completed the first five days of week one of fake Marathon training. Today is rest day before tomorrow's 6-miler.

Also, I started riding my bike to and from work this week, as I have no doubt mentioned (I thrive on extrinsic awards, so yes, yes, PLEASE tell me how wonderful, sportiva, and coragious I am, again and AGAIN and AGAIN! I can't get enough. If you do, I may just do it again next week!). And TODAY I felt EUPHORIA in the streets of Trieste. I ran my errands (Ufficio Tavolari, Unicredit Banca), figured out how and where to park my bike in front of both places, and I was a total bad-ass in traffic because I (finally) understood the secret of how to ride here. You don't go on the slow side on the right. You do like the scooters do and ride on the center line so that when there is a traffic light you end up right in front for when it turns green. Brilliant.

Yesterday I was supposed to do a 3-mile run. I finished work early so I decided to take Luna (my lab) with me on the bike path. The little lady is getting a bit long in the tooth (she's 9 soon), so I took a bottle of water to dump on her every time I found a water fountain. She was a trooper. We didn't do the whole three, but we did at least two, and probably closer to two and a half. It had been forever since I took her up there. She was like a puppy again, and I ran nice and slow with her and walked when she got tired, which I totally didn't mind. I think it's important to do that, too.

So, to sum up the week: I feel great physically. Work-wise it was a hard week, but in the end it was all like water off a duck's back. When you have your eyes on an impossible goal, everything else just feels like no big deal.

I'm toying with the idea of signing up for the Venice marathon (Did I ever tell you it is my dream to run Venice? Did I ever tell you I wanted to run it to celebrate my 40th birthday? Did I ever tell you I just turned 40 so the time is right?). I want my husband to run it with me. I don't think he will want to. But you never know.

Did it

Yes, I got those three miles in. And I am going to let you in on a little secret. All that talk Of changing shoes every blah blah miles or every six months? Total crap.

I have worn these shoes for a million races and about twice as many miles.

Masking tape, people!

Here is the other thing I am doing

I am holding myself accountable for everything in my life. So I'm back on flylady and started this little routine, which is kind of nice. It gives you a chance to write down what you ate and didn't, how long you worked out, how you feel, etc. I printed up a week's worth and am filling them out as I go along. So far so good.

I need to get a 3-mile run in today (this week's plan is 3 miles times 3 during the week and a 6-miler this weekend) to keep on track of week one of fake Marathon training.

I rode my bike this morning and noticed that something interesting is happening. I'm actually seeing my bike as default transportation and the bus as something icky and a last resort. Even though my bike ride to work and home is hilly and difficult for me, I am actually starting to get used to it.

I am also starting to get used to being in the middle of traffic. I didn't think that would ever happen.

Yeah! The week is off to a good start.

On the sad hand, Trieste is starting to go on vacation and people I like are saying things like "See you in September". It feels kind of lonely.

But big change is easier to make when you're a little lonely.

Day two of fake marathon training

I like following directions so I decided to put myself on a new fitness regimen. I am on day two of a Marathon training program for novices. I used to be a big (fat but consistent) runner, so following the novice plan makes me a bit itchy. Then again, I haven't run much at all for about 3 years (since I last ran a, my one and only, Marathon), so I think it's appropriate.

Week one is awesome. Yesterday was a rest day (so easy!). Today was 3 miles. I ran it nice and slow, rolled up my sleeves to try to fend off the farmer tan and felt great.

Then I came home, took the dog out, and rode my bike to work. Yes, that's two days in a row of riding my bike. And it was easier, too.

I had a new perspective on tired legs this morning. See, my real goal is to run an Ultra Marathon of 100 miles, but there were no training plans for zero to 100, so I am doing the Marathon plan first for a Marathon I do not plan to run, then going for the 50k plan, then the 100k and finally the 100 miler.

I guess this is a lot like planning for your phd when you haven't finished high school, but I don't care. I need a mission, and since at least part of my motivation is weight loss, I figure there will be no plateau if I keep increasing my milage.

And, at 100 miles, I just DARE my body to be fat. Who am I kidding? If I can run gd 100miles, WHO CARES???

Anyway Ultra training manuals say "Get used to running on tired legs". Check.

It's time to walk the walk

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who is taking a course to get certified in Coaching, as in the life kind, and that got me to thinking about how many things I have the intention of doing but then I get sidetracked by fear or self doubt or that self-destructive part of us that here is defined as  the blerch.

Well, I decided to make a list of the things I wanted to do and invented some deadlines. I need to hold myself accountable. Here are some of the things put on my list.

1. Work more (for money. I'm really good at working for free already).
2. Ride my bike (check. I rode to work today. Yippee for me!).
3. Start Marathon training even though I have no Marathon to train for (today is "rest day" so I guess you can say I've gotten off to a great start!).
4. Open a business in the States by October (shut up, Blerch! Shut up shut up shut up!).
5. Take charge of my non profit's Accounting (starting today, our fiscal year ends August 30. That's my deadline for having all up-to-date).
6. Keep my shit in order (this is vague. Let's start with clean the garbage out of my backpack. done).
7. Make a long term financial plan (This includes a 3-year, 5-year and 10-year plan that includes buying a home on the shores of the Adriatic in cash, shut up Blerch, and moving to Slovenia).

There are other things too, but they're more difficult things like TRY TO BE NICE TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, and DON'T DRINK SO MUCH and TRY TO GET UP EARLIER.

I will let you know how it goes. For now I have the strangest sensation of being nearly in control of my life.

Wow.

I was thinking out loud

Sorry, I didn't put an introduction on that last post. I started writing it last week when I had to make a huge tax payment and had three realizations.

My taxes are nearly half of what I earn.
I had the cash in the bank to cover what I had to pay.
I didn't feel like what I had to pay was unfair.

That makes me different than most of the people I know who work independently. Then I thought about it. There are those who complain about their taxes and those who don't.

What I found was that the people who complained about their taxes had something in common: they were open about the fact that they were actively evading taxes whenever and wherever possible.

Evasion was in the form of working under the table (taking cash for services and not issuing a bill) and writing off personal expenses (as opposed to work expenses). Justification for this was that "taxes are just too high. It's the only thing I can do to survive."

I know other business owners who never complain about their taxes. What they do talk about, though, is opening up to new markets and increasing revenue.

I really like to be around those kinds of people. They are optimists, hard workers, they see possibilities everywhere.

The tax complainers are boring. I have little patience for them. I do not want to be one.

If it's time to cough up and you're feeling down, think about this.

1. When your taxes go up, it usually means you are making more money, and that can't be a bad thing.

2. Tax evasion in Italy is the norm, so when you invoice properly, your clients take you more seriously.

3. At the Association we give a 5% discount when people pay for classes with a bank transfer.  Besides making our accounting easier and more transparent, it is the opposite of what many tax evaders here do, which is offer you a discount if you pay in cash. This move continues to earn us a lot of respect from our members.

4. You can work under the table all you want, but it will never make you feel richer or more professional. In fact, at the end of the year, the only thing that counts is your balance sheet, and work that is not invoiced doesn't show there. Declaring only a small part of what you actually bring in, alongside all of your expenses creates a lop-sided document that makes you look and feel like you are not in control of your finances.

5. In general, work on keeping your expenses down rather than looking for ways to avoid paying taxes. That is where you really notice the difference. It's much easier to pay your taxes (and much less annoying as a concept) when you don't spend the money you were supposed to put aside for them.

6. The negative energy people spend on complaining could be better used to look for new sources of income.  I, personally, would love the opportunity to make this lament: "The problem with making 2 million is that it's really 1 million after taxes."

7. The argument that our taxes don't do anything for us in Italy is Baloney. Health Care here is available for everyone. The peace of mind that brings is well worth the taxes we pay to keep it that way.

What kind of learner are you?

A couple of weeks ago I decided to do something different with my students. It was the week I got obsessed with learning styles (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic) and wanted to make EVERYONE my guinea pig.  Of course my first victim was ME because I wanted to TEST the TESTS. I thought I knew myself Soooo well so I googled a bunch of different online learning style tests and took them.

Here are some examples: The printable one or this quick online version. There are a million of these.

I really thought I was a visual learner. I never remember anything that anyone says to me unless I write it down, so I was SURE about this. I didn't even know what the hell a kinaesthetic learner was (they're also called Tactile learners).

WELL, it turns out that I am strongly KINAESTHETIC (why is it spelled like that anyway?) with a minor in Visual. I realized once again that my understanding of myself is rudimentary (but apparently pretty easy for others to get, as evidenced by almost every ex I've ever had who said "I know you better than You know Yourself!")

Then I started thinking about it. I went back to my very first memory: Petting a cat (Doing something, not seeing it or hearing it).

Then I thought about the things I hate most: sitting anywhere for long periods of time, like the dinner table (unless I am also knitting or, in the old days, smoking), talking on the phone (but that may be a result of 3 years of working in a bank call center when I was in college), waiting (unless I am writing or reading or knitting).

Then I thought of the ways I make myself relax at night so I can fall asleep (I imagine I am swimming laps or running a 100mile race, which is my dream by the way).

Then I considered the skill I wish I had (I would love to be a great chess player but I get too impatient to strategize. I just want to play as fast as possible, and I do it pretty badly. Love it, though, because I don't mind losing).

Then I thought about times when I was really productive, and I realized they were times when I was a frenetic note taker and journal writer. I went back even further and missed writing physical letters to people. I could crank out 16 a day during my more prolific pen pal periods (my only obstacle was the price of stamps).

And what of all those journals? Well, according to the evaluations and explanations I read, if I were a visual learner, they would be in neat, legible condition, and I would actually read them later.

Well I don't do that. Never did. It's like once the junk in my head was on paper I could sleep again because I knew I wouldn't forget it. I kept them, too. Until last week. A friend of mine died, see. A young guy, and it was sad and disconcerting.

It made me think about the things that are lying around the house. I thought about those journals that I toted halfway around the world with me. I realized that my writing helped me process information. That's it. If I wanted to get in touch with my feelings, for example, I had to get the pen moving. I probably could have done it with a fake pen, or my finger on a desk. It wasn't the ink on paper that did it, but rather the ACTION of writing. I purged all of those journals. My bookshelves looked organized for once. I felt lighter, less messy.

Later that day there was this tax question I had been mulling over that I couldn't figure out. I knew the answer was easy but I wanted to be able to explain it. So I took the dog for a walk. And you know what? While I was outside with her, I figured it out. And I was right.

Other telltale symptoms of Kinaesthetic learners: Frequent snacking, short attention span, and desire to play outside as much as possible. Check, check, and CHECK!