Crazy week
Today is officially the last day of our cleanse. Which means, today is the last day that I self-restrict booze, caffeine, animal products, gluten, soy, and sugar.
Tomorrow morning we are getting up early to go to our FAVORITE breakfast place for giant coffees and pan scramblers.
I am hoping after that, though, to continue cooking for ourselves more than rushing out to subway or ordering in pizza.
I am planning on keeping the kitchen stocked with more than the staples I grew up with - with staples that include more nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables, and even a few new ingredients like almond milk and coconut water.
Maybe we'll do it again. A. is down 20 lbs, and, while I'm not down much, I do feel pretty swell.
At the very least, I have reevaluated what we do and why - and I've proved to myself I can say 'no' to things.
I got that job. And it looks like it'll be .5, all year. So, next year I get to be half-time teacher robot, and work half-time on a special project. A special project I *think* I can contain to the hours allotted. Which means, in theory, I will have 50% more TIME TO BE A REAL PERSON NEXT YEAR. Which means I can go out for drinks with friends. Mow my lawn. Buy groceries and cook food. AND MAYBE EVEN CRAFT ONCE IN A WHILE. Possibly even practice whatever tunes the band is working on (instead of poorly winging it at practices every few months.) So. Freaking. Excited. (Sidenote: There's a possibility this will take even MORE time in the spring. But I'm hoping not.)
Training has kicked into high gear for the Waterton Glacier Relay. A month from now, I will have joined seven other magnificent ladies and together we will run 100 miles, from Cardston, Alberta to somewhere in Montana. I am personally responsible for 3 legs, totalling about 18 km. This isn't a huge deal for lots of people, but as a casual 5k runner - this is a big deal. So, starting yesterday, and continuing for the next 2 weekends, I am running TWICE a day on weekends (and then another 2 or 3 times during the week.) SO, basically, by this evening, I will have run 20 km this weekend. THAT IS CRAZY. But, honestly, again, it feels pretty good. This morning and last night, I was almost getting excited to go. (Which is a dramatic change from the sluggish "I hate this but it feels good after so I need to do it." attitude I normally rock.) So. Yeah. That, combined with baseball, combined with the healthy eating thing... I am a little surprised I haven't had to by clothes that fit... but, hey, what is a number on a scale anyhow? (And people have mentioned I look different. So I guess that's a good thing? I dunno.)
Momma bear turned 65 this past week. Crazy balls. I am so freaking lucky to have amazing parents. It's funny - A. will mention how much he likes my parents and then be surprised when I do something impulsive, angry, or defensive. He will then be shocked when I claim I come by it naturally (I know this isn't an excuse, and I'm working on being a less shitty person... but honestly, I do come by it naturally. Nature OR nurture... they're both valid reasons.) because my parents seem to calm, rational, and well adjusted.
And then I giggle and think about the blowouts I had with Dad as a teen and the stomping/slamming bouts Mom would immerse herself in. Annnnnd then I marvel at how life will, hopefully, also change me into a calm, rational, and well-adjusted person. Some day. Anyhow, I'm pretty lucky.
I have been feeling more and more "middle class" these days. It might be our choice/ability to pay for a vegan diet. It might be my obsession with gardening. It might be the growing gap between my age (and my friendss) and socioeconomic status, and the recently graduated kids I know, scrounging for summer employment and worrying about student loans. It might also be our recent visit with a financial planner and the knowledge that we could be debt free (including mortgage) in 9 years. It's probably a combination of things. But I think it also has to do with the conversations had with my Dad about their retirement financial status - and me realizing what middle class ACTUALLY MEANS.
Security is a bizarre concept, and I am very fortunate to feel I have it. (Which means, probably, that it's time to start doing something worthy and helping others achieve it, also.)
And on that note.... back to marking.
Tomorrow morning we are getting up early to go to our FAVORITE breakfast place for giant coffees and pan scramblers.
I am hoping after that, though, to continue cooking for ourselves more than rushing out to subway or ordering in pizza.
I am planning on keeping the kitchen stocked with more than the staples I grew up with - with staples that include more nuts, seeds, fresh vegetables, and even a few new ingredients like almond milk and coconut water.
Maybe we'll do it again. A. is down 20 lbs, and, while I'm not down much, I do feel pretty swell.
At the very least, I have reevaluated what we do and why - and I've proved to myself I can say 'no' to things.
I got that job. And it looks like it'll be .5, all year. So, next year I get to be half-time teacher robot, and work half-time on a special project. A special project I *think* I can contain to the hours allotted. Which means, in theory, I will have 50% more TIME TO BE A REAL PERSON NEXT YEAR. Which means I can go out for drinks with friends. Mow my lawn. Buy groceries and cook food. AND MAYBE EVEN CRAFT ONCE IN A WHILE. Possibly even practice whatever tunes the band is working on (instead of poorly winging it at practices every few months.) So. Freaking. Excited. (Sidenote: There's a possibility this will take even MORE time in the spring. But I'm hoping not.)
Training has kicked into high gear for the Waterton Glacier Relay. A month from now, I will have joined seven other magnificent ladies and together we will run 100 miles, from Cardston, Alberta to somewhere in Montana. I am personally responsible for 3 legs, totalling about 18 km. This isn't a huge deal for lots of people, but as a casual 5k runner - this is a big deal. So, starting yesterday, and continuing for the next 2 weekends, I am running TWICE a day on weekends (and then another 2 or 3 times during the week.) SO, basically, by this evening, I will have run 20 km this weekend. THAT IS CRAZY. But, honestly, again, it feels pretty good. This morning and last night, I was almost getting excited to go. (Which is a dramatic change from the sluggish "I hate this but it feels good after so I need to do it." attitude I normally rock.) So. Yeah. That, combined with baseball, combined with the healthy eating thing... I am a little surprised I haven't had to by clothes that fit... but, hey, what is a number on a scale anyhow? (And people have mentioned I look different. So I guess that's a good thing? I dunno.)
Momma bear turned 65 this past week. Crazy balls. I am so freaking lucky to have amazing parents. It's funny - A. will mention how much he likes my parents and then be surprised when I do something impulsive, angry, or defensive. He will then be shocked when I claim I come by it naturally (I know this isn't an excuse, and I'm working on being a less shitty person... but honestly, I do come by it naturally. Nature OR nurture... they're both valid reasons.) because my parents seem to calm, rational, and well adjusted.
And then I giggle and think about the blowouts I had with Dad as a teen and the stomping/slamming bouts Mom would immerse herself in. Annnnnd then I marvel at how life will, hopefully, also change me into a calm, rational, and well-adjusted person. Some day. Anyhow, I'm pretty lucky.
I have been feeling more and more "middle class" these days. It might be our choice/ability to pay for a vegan diet. It might be my obsession with gardening. It might be the growing gap between my age (and my friendss) and socioeconomic status, and the recently graduated kids I know, scrounging for summer employment and worrying about student loans. It might also be our recent visit with a financial planner and the knowledge that we could be debt free (including mortgage) in 9 years. It's probably a combination of things. But I think it also has to do with the conversations had with my Dad about their retirement financial status - and me realizing what middle class ACTUALLY MEANS.
Security is a bizarre concept, and I am very fortunate to feel I have it. (Which means, probably, that it's time to start doing something worthy and helping others achieve it, also.)
And on that note.... back to marking.