My vacation has started with a visit to the Doctor's office about a sore throat. Luckily, nothing major, just a very sore throat & swollen glands. 10 days of drugs to kick it out of my system. Two days so far of feeling like crap, wanting to cry every 10 seconds, lay down, be quiet, and having strange thoughts about the show "Honey Boo Boo". What can I say? When I get sick, my mind takes a leap into crazy town. Did you know more people watched episodes of Honey Boo Boo than the whole RNC?
Bud tells me I probably can't drink with my meds--but I checked and it doesn't say anything about not drinking alcohol. If I pass out after one beer, then we'll know I should lay off. My taste buds are a little off, so drinking beer may not be an issue if it tastes like crap-ola.
Which will suck, cause my family is gathering for a very large cookout/potluck tomorrow. We haven't all been together since our family Christmas in January, so it's time to let loose. Tons of food, lots of kids running around, and lots of beer drinking and yapping of the jaws. With such a large family it's hard for me to get together with all my brothers and sisters. Now their kids are having kids, so it's even tougher to get together. Someone is usually missing.
So besides tomorrow's festival of fun, what do I have planned for my vacation?
Reading. Reading. Reading.
Spending a few days with one of my favorite people on the planet.
Running. Biking. Reading.
Making dinner for Bud. We are in need of some together time pronto!
Hope to stop down and see a friend finish a half marathon Sunday morning. It's gonna be a warm one. Glad I'm not doing it. Next year, who knows? Missed my races this year. Let's hope there's no hot hot summer in 2013 so I can run without whining all summer long. It's hard to run fast when you do that.
And--I've made a decision on my workout. I am going to try Kosama which is a group atmosphere, different workouts everyday, and lots of different painful things. I will commit to two months, then if I don't like it, I will try something else. Right now Crossfit scares the crap out of me. I plan on signing up for Kosama next week, then getting started by Mid-September. They have an orientation on Saturdays, so I have to fit that into work. I'll keep everyone updated on it. Kinda excited, but also missing the comfort of the Y. But I'm a big girl, so I'll adjust.
Oh--and just lovely. All the plants I cut down after their summer of death have started to come back again. This is bad. I do not want them to think it's okay to grow again! Fall is just around the corner; go back to sleep!!!
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!
I almost forgot my Good Things Tuesday post!
It's been a very busy week for me. Lots of cleaning up around the house, finally mowing the yard, and making lists. Love to make lists, but don't always cross it all off.
Good things for this Tuesday:
1. Bud fixed my leaky faucet. So so happy. And I had the required tools and part to fix it already at my house.
2. Finished two books that I can pass on to another person this week.
3. Took books to used bookstore, took clothes to Goodwill. Feel a bit lighter for it.
4. Two more days at work before I have a week off. Very very happy about some time to spend at home and relax.
5. Family potluck this Saturday. Can't wait to see everyone.
6. I found a recipe for crockpot Buffalo Chicken. Making it for the family potluck. I imagine it can't taste anything but super deluxe delish.
7. Got to see my little niece Rose on Saturday. She is such a cutie. And she didn't cry but smiled at me when I picked her up. Awwww.
8. Rex-Goliath Wine. $4.99 and awesome. Thanks to two friends at work who told me about it. Cheap, and good!
What are you grateful for this week?
Had a conversation with my sister Michelle about gratitude. She was told she's missing the great small things in her life, and to keep a journal and write every day about the happy things in her life. Gee, flashbacks of Oprah! But it's a great idea for everyone. It's so easy to focus on the stress, the to-do list, the gotta do this and that list we have in our minds day in and day out. So I'm going to make every Tuesday my Good Things Day. One day a week is my starting point.
Here's my Good Things list for this Tuesday:
1. Buying new dishes today. Ridiculously happy about this.
2. Seeing Bud tonight. Belated birthday celebration for him. So happy he's in my life I can't even form coherent words about it.
3. Books. They make me so happy. All the time.
4. Happy it's another sunny, beautiful day.
5. Glad to go for a run today.
6. Thrilled I slept past 6 AM!
7. Happy dance for discovering the deliciousness of baked oatmeal. I could eat it all day.
8. Mums are out. Love their colors. Want to buy every one of them.
Once you start making a list of good things, it's easy to spot them all around you. So easy, in fact, that your list could soon be a filled journal, or a full blog post. ''
Join me on this journey! As someone who can be a super unhappy/whiney/crabby/glass completely empty kind of person, looking at the small happy things in my life gives me a sun-shiney glow that will power me through my day. And remind me that the best things usually come in small packages. Except my Bud. He's my biggest, best present of all time.
It feels like Fall is creeping into Iowa these past few weeks, and I haven't heard one person complain. After such a hot hot hot summer (and continuing drought) we all welcome rainy days (still too few) and cool nights. Miraculously, lawns are turning green again, and my two butterfly bushes have bloomed! I actually mowed yesterday. First time in probably 2 months.
But, there are casualties from this summer. I am heading out now to hack away at my hostas. Too fried to make a comeback before it's too cold. It takes a lot to knock out a hosta, so I am treating them kindly, knowing they'll be back again next spring. But I am really tired of looking at those wilty plants.
I have such a list for the next two weeks for my house and yard. It's time to get rid of the curtains in the living room and replace them with something new. Dishes are past their peak, and I've finally found something I like to replace them. The old dishes have served me well for the past 10 years, but it's time for something fresh and new. The old dishes will be boxed up and taken to Goodwill. Along with the curtains. And whatever I see around the house that I haven't thought about or cared about for at least a year. I love that rule! Makes detrashing much easier.
The detrashing will extend to my basement and garage; quite frankly, I am frightened. Frightened and dreading both areas.
There are spiders everywhere, and I can't walk two steps without wandering into a spider web. I don't like to wear gloves cause I have a hard time finding a size for my wee hands, but I may be forced to use a pair to tackle these jobs. I do not want to touch anything that may move or did move. I shudder just to think about it.
Of course I have wasted the whole summer not doing anything on my list until this week, when I have a deadline--surprise visitors at the end of next week. Not a surprise to me, but to many other people. This means frantically cleaning, washing, and gutting the house. Planning snacks and menus. Making ice cream. Organizing the booze in the basement. Important things.
But I can get a lot of shit done under pressure. Now if only I could compress a marathon training schedule into 2 weeks, I would be pretty damn happy.
Oh Fall, I can't wait to meet you again! And folks, if you hear me cursing and freaking out--don't worry. At the end of this 2 weeks of "fun" I will be relaxing and enjoying some down time.
Now off to gather my clippers!
In my on-going efforts to let a little sunshine into my pessimistic and, quite frankly, poopy head, I've discovered a few things about today--this particular Tuesday, that make me happy:
1. The mop on my head will be cut, colored, and bedazzled this afternoon. I cannot stand one more second of floppy, poofy hair.
2. My dear Bud will be stopping over tonight for supper! I'm thinking a shrimp dish is on the menu. And a bottle of chilled white wine.
3. We are finally going to watch the two Netflix movies I've had for the last two weeks. Olympics are over, back to normal life.
4. My never ending quest to contain my books at home has led me to finding books on shelves I didn't know I had--for the past 3 years. The pages are a bit yellow, but I shall read them! It's like having my very own bookstore right in my living room. And bedroom. And dining room.
5. Going out for a run. It will be short, but I get to listen to my new songs on the wee-pod.
6. I have added to my stack of BOOKS I HAVE READ AND MUST LEAVE THE HOUSE PILE. A few more days and I'll be taking them away to find other readers who just don't know they need these books until they see them.
7. Hatch chiles are on sale this week! Today was my first official ad sighting from the local grocery store. Making plans to purchase giant amounts to roast, peel, chop, and freeze.
Wow. I found a lot to be smiley about today. What's making you happy today?
Wondered just when the YMCA was going to take this month's membership out of my account. Checked my membership, and found it "inactive". Oops. It expired last month. I had no idea. I guess I thought they would keep taking money out of my account until I told them to stop.
So I find myself suddenly without a gym for the first time in 8 years. I don't know how I feel about this. Granted, I have been very lax in going to the gym for the past few months, but it was a bit like a comfort blanket. I always knew I could run to the Y and ride a bike, lift some weights, or run on the treadmill. Or even get the class schedule and try a class or two.
But it was always there. I always kept up that membership.
The universe always works in funny ways, and a few things have popped up to remind me that sometimes change is a good thing, and sometimes we need change to take a leap forward. I have been thinking of trying Crossfit. It's a program that involves group workouts--but it's tailored to your fitness level. It's different every time you go, and it kicks your ass. My niece does Crossfit, and tells me it's addictive, but very hard. I've seen her and she looks amazing!
I have discovered that in order for me to feel like I have done any kind of workout, I need to feel like I want to throw up, pass out, and hurt all over. Then I know I've given it my all, my muscles are rebuilding themselves, and my lungs are getting stronger. I don't feel like I did a half-ass job working out.
I also just read a great post from Amanda at Runninghood. She's got such a great outlook on life, family, and running. Another gentle nudge from the universe to "feel the fear and do it anyway." I like change, but quite frankly it does scare the hell out of me sometimes. And while changing my work out routine may seem rather unimportant to some, to me it's a big deal because it means the difference between finding a potential new passion, or staying the same and slowly succumbing to that self-loathing that is sure to follow.
I think Crossfit may do that for me. I have heard so many positive things about Crossfit, and I'm so lucky to have one here in my city--and only a few miles from work and home.
I have a decision to make: rejoin the Y, try Crossfit for 6 months, or do neither and do my own thing at home with workout videos and run/bike outside until the weather keeps me from it. What should I do??!!
In the meantime, I will keep up that running log and enjoy the cooler weather before the snow flies and the clock changes.
So far, so good. August has been alright! I know I have many more days, but I can't complain. Fingers crossed it continues in a positive mode.
First thing: I ran today. Yippee!! It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't far, and it involved walk breaks, but I did run for the first time since June. The leg felt pretty good but started to hurt after 2 miles so I stopped. I know this will be a long road, but I've got nothing but time the rest of the year to improve slow and steady. I have to admit not having any races lined up has taken pressure off of me that I wasn't aware of until it was gone. Yes, it's important to have goals, and races usually are a great way to get me moving and motivated. But sometimes this can create a stress for me to do better and better--which, let's face it--isn't going to happen. I've been running for almost 10 years and I'm slower, rather than faster than I used to be. If I worked really hard and let running be my main focus, I probably could improve quite a bit. But do I want to? I don't know. I just want to be able to run and enjoy it. So, today was day one! I am going to start keeping track of my running again. This is something I did not do very well in the past year and I can certainly say it really is critical to the mental game. Re-reading past entries reinforces the improvements you feel in your body. So I'm pulling out the running journal and starting with today's run. It also helps that the YMCA is starting their 2012-2013 work-out tracking system today. I didn't do it at all last year, so this year I'm determined to keep adding to it every week--either running or biking.
I have had the past week off--tomorrow it's back to work. I did go bike riding and enjoyed it--except for the near crash on Saturday. I wasn't paying attention. Sorry man on the bike I almost ran into. I promise to be aware next time. It's still hot here, but I managed to get in a few rides before it got oppressive. Compared to the temps we had a few weeks ago, it is not so bad. But it does require air conditioning. I've come to accept that my air will be running for the next few weeks. This has been the hottest summer we've had for quite awhile, and the drought just makes it worse. It's terrible to drive past the corn fields and see the corn all yellow and brown. Hard to miss here--corn is everywhere!
The garden. Oh, the garden. I did find a hollyhock blooming this morning:
Other than that, plants are waving the white flag. I've begun cutting hostas and all my lily plants down. It's a bit early, but they're dead or nearly there. I guess this means I'll be able to spend more time this Fall riding my bike or running since the yard work will already be done. Fingers crossed perennials will pop back up next year.
So what can I expect from August?
* A steady diet of running 3 times a week
* Bike riding
*More ice cream recipes to make. I'm loving the strawberry/banana frozen yogurt I made earlier this week.
*Reading enough books to hit 100 (as of today I have 10 to go!)
*Bombarding Bud with more new recipes. Poor guy.
*House cleaning projects I ignored while on vacation this week.
*Alcohol consumption. This happens every month week. Not too much and not every day. Iced tea is still the beverage of choice!
