Yesterday I walked to my mom's. I proactively wrapped my ankles, grabbed my backpack that was included my lunch for when I got there and a couple water bottles, and headed out. I spent most of the time just walking, and very little jogging. I had forgotten how long the trip actually was, on foot. It used to take me a little over half an hour. Yesterday it took me a good 45-50 minutes. That did include stopping to undo and fix the wrap on one of my feet and look over the canal a minute, but still. That's going to have to be improved.
I haven't chosen an event goal yet, though I probably will, but I have picked a program. I will consider yesterday a very long but slow warm up. I am going to attempt the Couch to 5K program. I will start tomorrow, probably around the mall or something similar in the gap between J starting work and me starting. Yesterday beat my butt a little and I'm going to skip exercising today to recuperate, just stretch my muscles and relax... and chores around the house. Heh.
If you've never heard of the C25K and are curious..
Have a great day!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
A Big Old Fib - Rooted in Reality
It was my wedding day and I was thrilled with the unseasonably warm weather, so thrilled that I closed the door behind me without thinking. I took a few steps away from the door before I realized what I had done.
“Oh no!” I shrieked. My friend's expression caused me to explain, though not calmly. “The door locks when I close it.. And my dress is in there. So is my niece.”
Assuming she would make the obvious conclusion, I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket to call the landlord. If she woke up and ruined my dress... I couldn't stop fidgeting while I waited from him to pick up. Finally, he answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Lenk. Do you happen to be home?” I started. His confirmation encouraged me. “Could you come over right away? I've locked myself out and I need to get back in.”
He assured me he would be there in five minutes and I hung up. Looking over at Sara it was quite obvious that she had realized why this was such a big deal. My niece was cute and all, but if she woke up from the nap and there was no one there... Well there was no telling what she would do.
I tried to push away the memories of her past escapades; cutting through the toaster cord with kitchen shears, drawing on her bedroom walls with permanent marker, getting lipstick all over her mom's favorite white stilettos. White...
I muttered a quick prayer that my dress would be okay and tiptoed around the apartment to my bedroom window. The curtains rippled in the gentle spring breeze, but I couldn't see into the dark room. Was that the sound of plastic crinkling? I couldn't be sure. Thinking about how to get into the apartment I nixed the window because I didn't think I could get the screen off from the outside. So I looked back at Sara. The bright sun and gorgeous blue skies above her somehow seemed almost mocking now.
“Any ideas?” I asked her, though I no longer held much hope.
“No, but Mr Lenk should be here any moment.”
“I know... but I can't just stand here and wait.”
I looked around for inspiration, finding nothing, and started slowly back to the front of the building. I pictured her ripping the plastic of my gorgeous princess gown. I could imagine her grinning as she started off her 2 year old's version of a picture for her auntie on that shiny new canvas.
Then I remembered the patio door. Maybe Sara could boost me over the wall and I could let myself in that way. Luckily I knew that the door would be unlocked because I figured if the wall wasn't enough to deter a thief then the lock probably wouldn't be either. I filled Sara in on the plan and then knelt down to remove my sandals.
“Okay,” I said, “you kneel down, right over her. And I'll...” I lifted my foot up to rest on her knee as I talked.
“Whoah! Hat are you ladies doing?” My landlord's burly voice surprised me and I fell backwards. Thankfully it wasn't very far down. Yet. I righted myself and laughed.
“Trying to get back in, of course. Good timing.” I smiled nervously, “Now could you please let us in?”
“Certainly.”
“He pulled the large keyring out of the pocket of his jacket and found our key. He slid the key into the lock and opened the door, then stepped out of the way to let me in.
“What are you to doing so gussied up on a nice warm day like this?” I heard him ask.
“It's her wedding day,” Sara answered for us as I rushed into the apartment.
Rushing over to where I had left my dress I sighed in relief when I saw that it appeared to be untouched. I nervously lifted up the bottom of the bag the shop had wrapped the dress in to show the skirts beneath. They were the same sparkling white as they had always been. I dropped the bag back down and walked into my bedroom.
“Time to get up, sweetie,” I said to the sleeping child. “We're going to go get dressed for the wedding.”
She smiled up at me and climbed out of the bed. “I like weddings,” she declared sleepily.
“Oh no!” I shrieked. My friend's expression caused me to explain, though not calmly. “The door locks when I close it.. And my dress is in there. So is my niece.”
Assuming she would make the obvious conclusion, I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket to call the landlord. If she woke up and ruined my dress... I couldn't stop fidgeting while I waited from him to pick up. Finally, he answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Lenk. Do you happen to be home?” I started. His confirmation encouraged me. “Could you come over right away? I've locked myself out and I need to get back in.”
He assured me he would be there in five minutes and I hung up. Looking over at Sara it was quite obvious that she had realized why this was such a big deal. My niece was cute and all, but if she woke up from the nap and there was no one there... Well there was no telling what she would do.
I tried to push away the memories of her past escapades; cutting through the toaster cord with kitchen shears, drawing on her bedroom walls with permanent marker, getting lipstick all over her mom's favorite white stilettos. White...
I muttered a quick prayer that my dress would be okay and tiptoed around the apartment to my bedroom window. The curtains rippled in the gentle spring breeze, but I couldn't see into the dark room. Was that the sound of plastic crinkling? I couldn't be sure. Thinking about how to get into the apartment I nixed the window because I didn't think I could get the screen off from the outside. So I looked back at Sara. The bright sun and gorgeous blue skies above her somehow seemed almost mocking now.
“Any ideas?” I asked her, though I no longer held much hope.
“No, but Mr Lenk should be here any moment.”
“I know... but I can't just stand here and wait.”
I looked around for inspiration, finding nothing, and started slowly back to the front of the building. I pictured her ripping the plastic of my gorgeous princess gown. I could imagine her grinning as she started off her 2 year old's version of a picture for her auntie on that shiny new canvas.
Then I remembered the patio door. Maybe Sara could boost me over the wall and I could let myself in that way. Luckily I knew that the door would be unlocked because I figured if the wall wasn't enough to deter a thief then the lock probably wouldn't be either. I filled Sara in on the plan and then knelt down to remove my sandals.
“Okay,” I said, “you kneel down, right over her. And I'll...” I lifted my foot up to rest on her knee as I talked.
“Whoah! Hat are you ladies doing?” My landlord's burly voice surprised me and I fell backwards. Thankfully it wasn't very far down. Yet. I righted myself and laughed.
“Trying to get back in, of course. Good timing.” I smiled nervously, “Now could you please let us in?”
“Certainly.”
“He pulled the large keyring out of the pocket of his jacket and found our key. He slid the key into the lock and opened the door, then stepped out of the way to let me in.
“What are you to doing so gussied up on a nice warm day like this?” I heard him ask.
“It's her wedding day,” Sara answered for us as I rushed into the apartment.
Rushing over to where I had left my dress I sighed in relief when I saw that it appeared to be untouched. I nervously lifted up the bottom of the bag the shop had wrapped the dress in to show the skirts beneath. They were the same sparkling white as they had always been. I dropped the bag back down and walked into my bedroom.
“Time to get up, sweetie,” I said to the sleeping child. “We're going to go get dressed for the wedding.”
She smiled up at me and climbed out of the bed. “I like weddings,” she declared sleepily.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Some Random Writing prompts
It's time for you and Writer's Block to part ways. Write a letter breaking up with Writer's Block, starting out with, "Dear Writer's Block, it's not you, it's me ... ."
Dear Writer's Block,
It's not you, it's me. The days are long past when we used to sit up together till 2 AM watching youtube and eating cheese doodles. You are still the great excuse you once were, but I no longer need or want you. It is time for me to move on. Inspiration came over the other night. She wouldn't watch youtube with me like you used to, but we had a lot of fun. And we were in bed by 11 so we both had a good night's sleep as well. Yea, it is a new chapter in my life. I hope you can find some other poor schmuck to enjoy his nights, and early mornings with you. So long and good riddance. I will miss you though.
Yours truly,
Ted
Dear Auntie,
Thank you so much for the rooster you sent me. Although when I first saw it terrible memories of Uncle Joe's crazy homicidal chickens came back, and I had to go to counseling for weeks... I've moved on now. The dispenser has given me an excuse to buy the delicious real maple syrup that I've always loved but never been able to afford, so I thank you for that. I still can't afford it though. Do you think you could send me $20 in your next letter.
With love,
Your Favorite Niece 'Liza
Dear Writer's Block,
It's not you, it's me. The days are long past when we used to sit up together till 2 AM watching youtube and eating cheese doodles. You are still the great excuse you once were, but I no longer need or want you. It is time for me to move on. Inspiration came over the other night. She wouldn't watch youtube with me like you used to, but we had a lot of fun. And we were in bed by 11 so we both had a good night's sleep as well. Yea, it is a new chapter in my life. I hope you can find some other poor schmuck to enjoy his nights, and early mornings with you. So long and good riddance. I will miss you though.
Yours truly,
Ted
For your birthday, your aunt gave you a maple syrup dispenser shaped like a rooster. Please write her a thank-you note:
Dear Auntie,
Thank you so much for the rooster you sent me. Although when I first saw it terrible memories of Uncle Joe's crazy homicidal chickens came back, and I had to go to counseling for weeks... I've moved on now. The dispenser has given me an excuse to buy the delicious real maple syrup that I've always loved but never been able to afford, so I thank you for that. I still can't afford it though. Do you think you could send me $20 in your next letter.
With love,
Your Favorite Niece 'Liza
Taking Care of Me
So this is post number one. I wanted to be able to write, but didn't know what to write about... So I decided I'd write about what I want whenever I want to and not worry about sticking to a single topic, though I'll try to remember to categorize the posts. Maybe a topic will develop as I go.
Tonight I'm going to ramble about health, because that's what is on my mind (besides our imminent move that is). I have been worrying a lot about my health, but not doing much about it. I've been saying I want to eat better but eating out several days a week, snacking, and taking in way too much sodium. On top of that, when I finally get home I tell myself I'm too tired to work out, or clean, or do anything healthy or productive. Not good for the body or the home environment.
I think I have figured out part of the problem. I say I want to be healthier, and say I want to lose weight - both of which are true - but I don't have a specific goal. So I am going to make one. I might not be able to be as aggressive as I would like until after this move, but I am going to be thinking and working on it. A new goal. One that is measurable, aspiring, attainable and gives me a prod in the right direction. Plus maybe a deadline.
I'm contemplating the idea of signing up for a charity run, or bike ride, or something for the summer.
What do you think?
Tonight I'm going to ramble about health, because that's what is on my mind (besides our imminent move that is). I have been worrying a lot about my health, but not doing much about it. I've been saying I want to eat better but eating out several days a week, snacking, and taking in way too much sodium. On top of that, when I finally get home I tell myself I'm too tired to work out, or clean, or do anything healthy or productive. Not good for the body or the home environment.
I think I have figured out part of the problem. I say I want to be healthier, and say I want to lose weight - both of which are true - but I don't have a specific goal. So I am going to make one. I might not be able to be as aggressive as I would like until after this move, but I am going to be thinking and working on it. A new goal. One that is measurable, aspiring, attainable and gives me a prod in the right direction. Plus maybe a deadline.
I'm contemplating the idea of signing up for a charity run, or bike ride, or something for the summer.
What do you think?
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