Catching Up Since Christmas....

So, this happened in May:

Two years of hard work, very little sleep, and not seeing much of Bud!  I'm still trying to relax a bit, and just "work" full-time.  Life has been very hectic so far this summer.  My plan to de-clutter my house hasn't happened just yet, but I guess there's still July and August, right?  And my itch for school is done for awhile....unless I decide I need another MA or even perhaps a PhD?! 

I'm going to try and keep posting to this blog, now that I have some time.  Once again, stories of life, food, flowers, and stuff I want to share. In the meantime, Hello everyone!  Glad to be back.  I'm still working on healing my left foot and the plantar fasciitis that has plagued me for two years.  Now I'm visiting a chiropractor and so far one week in and a few adjustments have meant that I've been able to have days where my foot doesn't hurt at all.  Downright amazing.  There's hope for me getting back into some running, even though I'll never probably be super serious about it.  I do miss running early in the mornings in the summer.  The best time time to run, in my opinion. 

Stay tuned, and I'll be bringing you more stuff from the great Midwest!  

Happy Summer everyone :)
  

One Year of Grad School Behind Me, Summer in Front of Me

It's been awhile since I've posted.  My life has been a never ending swirl of books, homework, and work.  But I'm happy to say I took my last final of the year last night and now I'm free for a few months.  This will take some time to understand; I've already woken up this morning thinking I have homework to do.  Nope!  The summer months stretch out before me….with lots of work.

I've neglected my little house something terrible these past 9 months.  A major de-trashing is required.  Planting flowers, making limoncello, sorting through clothes, getting outside and running again….all those are to-do's for me.  No rest for the weary.  I wrote a paper on urban beekeeping this year, and now I'm all big on bees.  My flower planting will be big!  I want those bees in my yard.  

My other blog, Bookalicious Babe has kept me extremely busy.  And I was so grateful to be interviewed for Publisher's Weekly last week.  School kept my reading for pleasure (and to keep me sane) at an all-time low, so I'm gearing up to do a major reading marathon in the next few months.  

And I can't wait to cook on a regular basis again!  Too much eating on the run has left me….not able to run.  Ick.  Bike rides and runs are on the menu, too.  

So what has this past year taught me?  That I am strong.  That I can keep getting up every day and keep going.  That I can't do it all, and something has to give.  That I miss my Bud terribly when I can only see him once a week.  I've learned that I love being in school.  It never gets old.  I've learned that I'll never stop going to school.  Retirement will include attending classes.  I think I've got another Master's degree in me somewhere.  

I've learned that having people around you that encourage you is priceless.  I've learned that there are younger people out there who are serious, study hard, and want to make a difference.  

College isn't the be all and end all for everyone.  But for me, it is.  I can't imagine missing out on it, and how different I would be without that education. I think my world would be a little smaller, somehow.  It gives me a sense of being part of a global community; part of humanity with all the good and bad.  

I'll try to relax this summer.  How about you?

Summer Sun (Finally!!) And The Workout That Wasn't Meant To Be

We've had 4 days in a row of sunny, warm days and wonderful evenings here in Iowa.  This is a record, since this hasn't happened since last summer.  Plants are growing like crazy and happy to see the sun.  I am happy to see the sun come up at 5:30 in the morning, cause it means I can get up early and run.  There is nothing like running early in the morning, when the air is cool, there's no one around, and the day is new.  It makes you feel like you actually did something with your day even if it ends up taking a nosedive.  And you can relax at night, knowing you worked out super early.  I would like to run at night, but I have horrible night vision and would end up tripping over a curb, running into a parked car, and probably a light pole.  

I was super excited to sign up for a new course at the YMCA called Y360.  It was basically a 3 day a week 45 minute workout using tires, ropes, kettle bells, and my pure muscle strength (insert sarcasm).  It was also at 5:45 in the morning.  It was tough to get up, but once I was up and out the door, it felt good to be up and motivated early.  And it was an excuse to get coffee on the way home.

Except I was the only person who showed up.  THE ONLY PERSON TO SHOW UP AT ALL EVER.  Out of 3 YMCA's in the community, no one else paid and joined the class.  What the hell?

So my teacher, Lynn, worked out with me for those 3 days last week.  We worked outside and she tried to kill me, but I survived.  It was decided that if no one else joined, the course would be cancelled.  And it was.  Crap.

I'm back doing Body Pump and again contemplating doing Cross Fit.  And each week I tell myself I have to run x number of miles, and every week I don't.  Life is getting in the way of my running.  I haven't made it a priority, and I need to do that for my peace of mind, my giggly gut, and my legs that really really need to muscle up.  

What are you doing to stay fit this summer?  Have you tried a new fitness class?  Do you do Cross Fit?  

This is me after 5 minutes of exercise