cageyness

Snoozing in the sun, and running down the night

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:11:07 -0700

The wonderful thing I have already discoverd about starting and ending my workday earlier is how much daylight it gives me on my own time.

Tonight I made it home by 10 of 6. With the dogs and cats fed, and the laundry started, I walked out to the backyard with one of the pups--Evita, who's really an old girl. She plopped down on the grass and I plopped down in the shade on the patio, on a little low-to-the-ground lounger I bought a few weeks ago. And in the late heat of the day, still in my work dress, and a steady breeze tossing my hair around...I fell asleep. It was wonderful--probably the most decadent thing I've done in a very long time. I woke up to Evita barking at folks biking behind the house and the goats nearby braying their agreement. They made for a surprisingly pleasant alarm clock.

After a little cleaning up I put on my workout gear and headed to Plum Creek for hills tonight. Plum Creek is one of those Stepford wives subdivisions with homes that look like they were designed by a Disney Imagineer. [And yes, that's a little bit of envy you hear in my voice, because the place does look all glossy and new after all this time. However, the reason behind that is a very strict HOA...and I'll be durned if I ever let a group of fascists tell me what color I can and cannot paint my house. ;-) ] The hills weren't ggantic climbs, but any little incline goes a long way, especially over distance, especially on 5 loops around when you had to sprint to catch up with the group at the very beginning because you were late getting to the starting point. Ugh. I have to say, it was a hell of a workout. I felt like puking about half way through. Just the heaves though. That's some good hill running. Yup yup.

Late now, and enjoying an offline conversation, so goodnight all.

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"Suck it up, don't puss out on this hill!"

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:03:48 -0700

[That's what the voice in my head said at least once today.]

So, I did the Belterra Sprint Triathlon this morning. It was hella hard, to borrow a midwesterner's phrase. And I was extremly disappointed with both my swim and my bike--the bike was especially difficult as the hills were more than I've experienced thus far. I rocked the run though (considering how the bike worked me over, I think "rock" is an accurate depiction), thankfully, so I finished with a slightly cheerier disposition than I'd had post-swim and post-bike.

I studied the swim and bike times that the organizers posted, and what had felt like hours was less than that, but still, I wasn't pleased with my times. So I grumpily drank water and gatorade and ate part of a banana. Eventually I chilled out a bit and chatted with the 2 other tri-club members who participated today. At least I know what I need to do more than anything else to improve my performance: run and bike hills to increase my lung capacity in the water and my strength on the bike. Sigh. Still...I just wanted to do better, you know? It sucks to see your name at the bottom of the lists for 2 events.

Ha.

So I'm standing and chatting and rubbing the excess, dried up sunscreen off my face (thank goodness for SPF 70--applied liberally multiple times, I STILL got darker) and generally looking like a goober, I'm sure, when they call my name...for second place in my age group (25-29). Qua? Moi? I had to wonder, did everybody suck? Apparently not, but my run just made up for a lot of the time I lost on the bike, and tada(!) I got a cheesy medal and was made to feel like a five year old for being so churlish, and for being so hard on myself (in a non-constructive way.) They made a little bit of a big deal about me being a first timer too.

I was wearing a sheepish grin from that point until I left.

Still somewhat unconvinced, I double checked the times for the other age groups and it turns out that I would have still received 2nd place for two of the three other groups: 20-24 and 35-39. Unfortunately, I would have earned only 4th place in the 30-34 year old age group. (It's a phenomenom of triathletes that they tend to continue to improve their time as they get older. The 30-34 range is the most competitive next to the 20-24 year olds.) I am determined to whoop ass when I join their ranks soon.

Lessons learned:

(1) Don't be so damn hard on myself. (Rinse, Repeat.)

(2) Go with my gut when I think something's wrong with my bike. That brake issue I've been troubleshooting for weeks bit me in the butt again today. I handled it, but it is definitely bad news--turns out the damn thing was rubbing on the actual rubber of the front tire from time to time. Took it all the way to Pedal Power in San Marcos (I'll never go back to the other unnamed place again!) right after the race so they could replace the brakes and install an aero-bar--that's what those triangular or oval shaped handles in the middle of the handlebars, jutting out over the front tire, are called.

(3) Address the "I'm too antsy to sleep the night before my triathlon" issue. I was super tired today because I could NOT get to sleep last night...I did today's tri on less than 2 hours of shut-eye. Stupid, I know, but it couldn't be helped--I was all wound up. Just imagine how much better I could have done if I had been rested? (Dummy girl!)

My times were:

300 M Swim--9:30:4 (Grrrrr.)

9 Mile Bike (includes transition time)--46:46:4 (Damn those hills. I probably could have walked faster.)

3 Mile Run--26:30:2 (Eh, not bad, considering.)

And now it's time for a shower, food, and a nap. In that order.

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Up, up and away...

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:32:22 -0700

in my beautiful, my beautiful...BAAAAALLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Oh, A.M. Gold, how I love thee.

Anyway, that ridiculous line from an equally ridiculous song is meant to lead into my generally cheery post about life in general.

Sure, my savings are dwindling, I still don't have an extra part-time job, and those student loans are going into reduced less-than-interest payments again, but, eh, life is super good.

Remember that informal crappy review I received at work? Opinions are now, thankfully, totally reversed. It appears I've nailed project after project since then. I say 'appears' because while said projects were rolling along just as nicely before, now that they've finally come to completion people can actually see the progress. The reviews are in from many parties beyond and including the peers who were 'concerned' about my performance, and tada, I'm a hit!

Why the sudden reversal of fortune? Well, partly because I have been playing CYA much more consistently--I'm documenting EVERYTHING in writing--and I've made it a point to be early to just about everything possible, but perhaps most importantly, I've become super vocal in meetings and in various projects pow-wows so that no one can wonder what I'm doing with my time. I think I was playing nice, playing fly on the wall too much, and just trying not to piss anyone off, but now, I'm just being me. I'm aggressive and assertive and I expect a lot from myself and others, AND I hate bullshit. So, really, I think the biggest change I've implemented in my work life is that when I see bullshit, I call it, instead of just holding my tongue and trying not to piss anyone off. And I'm also calling my own fouls so no one else has the chance to point the finger.

I know it probably seems oh-so-typically-middle-class-American to put the status of my work environment first in a list of things that are good about life, but really, it's a big deal. I like being good at what I do--and whether I'm a cog in the wheel or not, I happen to enjoy this job. It's the first job I've held where the company powers-that-be have not insisted on handing my soul, my social life, and my relationships over to their whims and their 'cause'. This is the first job I've held where my 'superiors' don't think it's perfectly acceptable to scream, cry, or cuss at me, to call me an asshole and to play psychological warfare when I fall short of--impossible--expectations. [And no, I'm not whining, I really mean impossible expectations--that's what non-profits do, don't you know?]

And while I was uncomfortable with the fact that my peers didn't come to me with their issues, but instead went directly to my supervisor, I find it amazing that they have made an even bigger effort to applaud my performance, give me kudos where I deserve them, and report my successes to others. My little bad-review bump in the road hasn't affected our working relationship at all, and despite the fact that I've become noticeably more assertive and aggressive in meetings, I don't feel any sort of strange competitive backlash. It's as if, dare I say it, I work with--mostly--professional people. Bizarre, I tell you, utterly bizarre.

[Oh, and a side note about that middle class statement--I have to say that I aspire to the middle-class. Yes, I'm educated. Yes, I hold a job that doesn't require manual labor. I own my house, or rather it owns me. Etc. BUT all of that is at and has always been at a price that I can barely afford. While the credit card debt is gone--thank God--the student loans and the price of gas ($70 to fill up my tank? Are you f'ing serious?!) are eating my f'ing lunch.]

Away from the work life, I now turn your attention to my writing. No, not this stream of consciousness of a blog I keep, but rather more formal work. I joined a newly formed writing group of St. Edward's University alumni and our first non-fiction/fiction meeting was tonight. Having previously volunteered to be first up in presenting something original, I stayed up till 3 last night cleaning up a fiction vignette I wrote a few years back. It was something I always liked, but that I just hadn't been able to touch or do anything with until now--too prophetic given the turn of events over the last couple of years. I received some excellent feedback on how to round it out--it really helped me to conceptualize how it could fit in with the other pieces of the collection idea I've been toying with for months. As always, the negative, er, constructive criticism is as important as the 'bravas!'--but it's nice to get them anyway. I don't care who you are, a little petting of the ego, a little confirmation that the words you loved and crafted so carefully are also admired by others, well, it really does wonders towards softening the negative reviews.

Finally, on the tri front, I ran the hill workout with the tri group tonight and did, in retrospect, reasonably well. Actually, I hung in there great for my first time back, but while I was actually running I felt like a real weakling. I shouldn't have, but I am so damn competitive that if I'm not always in the lead of the pack, it just burns a hole in my psyche. Luckily I distracted myself by repeatedly assessing whether I was about to have an asthma attack. Exercise-induced asthma is bullshit! I'm convinced I can just find a way to push my endurance past the point of wheezing, but really, it's very annoying to know I shouldn't be out of breath, but I just can't seem to suck enough oxygen into my lungs. I realize this sounds like a rant, but really, I am loving the training experience. Every day I see parts of my body shaping themselves and my strength increases, I sleep soundly, and I weather my dreams in stride.

There's something spiritual about all these experiences converging right now...somewhere in the juxtaposition of challenges, failures, and successes, heartache and healing, I'm finding a sense of peace I've never felt before. It's not magical or mystical or all consuming or anything over zealous (not that I've ever felt that crap either)...it's just so...light. It's like lying on the warm concrete after a swim in a cold pool...like the wind and the smell of the ocean while riding a bike on the Strand. Like feeling those memories in all my quiet moments...I can't describe it any better than that. I guess despite my love of words, in this case, words fail me.

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Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:13:19 -0700

I should be more tired than I am, and likely I am actually exhausted, but the endorphins and adrenaline are keeping the pain at bay. I did a mini-tri with the Hill Country Tri Group tonight. My first attempt at all three activities in succession: 300 meter swim, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run.

Things started off chaotically as I made it home from work with only 10 minutes to spare before the start time, and not only did I have to change, but I also had to swap the dogs out (backyard to garage, indoor to backyard, and back again), feed the cats, load my bike and be off. In my rush I forgot my swim cap, cell phone, and water. An auspicious start...

Lucky for me the folks were waiting and had just finished a little intro on transitioning (swim to bike, bike to run) and set up your transition area (where your bike and all your stuff is waiting for you) efficiently. When I arrived my fellow participants gave me a recap of what they had just heard while I set up my transition area and then we were off.

But before I move on, I have to say that it was a little intimidating to be hearing about bike shoes and "clipping in" and transitioning barefoot so that you can run faster than in your 'bike shoes'. Admittedly, I'm a beginner. I don't have 'bike shoes', I have a pair of lighter, less supportive shoes I wear for bike riding, but they're just my old runners. It was just a bit much for me I guess--I mean, this a journey of personal growth and I've already put more money into this pursuit than I had intended, but I really want to do it for me...I'm just not looking to win any trophies, you know? I suppose I could, but one thing at a time, like say for instance, not panicking in the water?

I am happy to say that my swim went very, very well--much better than expected. I didn't set any records, and my stroke was messy at times, but I came in ahead of 2 other women and that was just fine by me. I probably could have done better if I could have just caught my breath. More on that later.

And then the bike. My transition went poorly, owing mostly I'm afraid to my attempt at politeness. One of the women in the group was insisting that everyone try this electrolyte goo called, appropriately, Gu. She was rather insistent, and very quick about it, and had the thing over my head before I knew it, and damn it she's one of the organizers of the group, so...I opened my mouth. Big mistake. That SHIT WAS NASTY! You see, I'm a texture girl--as important to food as the taste and smell of things are, to me texture is just as important. This stuff was like the worst, thickest nastiest moccos (phlegm) that try to choke you in your sleep when you're battling a winter cold and cough. Oh, and then she dripped it onto my chin! (She didn't mean to, but dammit...) So I wiped the stuff on the back of my shirt, put the shirt on and then spent the next couple minutes half-heartedly putting my shoes, shorts, helmet, and gloves on while gagging on this stuff still coating my throat. I was a bit distracted.

So I was the last one on my bike, but--nice folks that they are and this being a non-competitive tri for us first-timers--everyone waited for me. See a trend here? Sadly, the bike didn't go very well for me at all--to my surprise. I felt I was at least as strong on it as on my feet, but I was off from the beginning. I couldn't find a gear that felt right, my seat was too low and I had to adjust it midway to a still unsatisfactory height, and I was dead, dead last in the pack. Heck, I wasn't even part of the pack. It was just me and the Gu lady who could have left me in the dust--and I told her to go on ahead--but she insisted on staying back with me. At that point it became a mental game for me. She was very nice and gave me a lot of great advice, helping me to play with the gears, etc., but I really hated being last, I hated not being able to push myself harder, and I hated (in a purely juvenile and assanine fashion) how nice and helpful she was being. I wanted her to ditch me so I could finish the ride by my own sorry self.

At one point on the ride back from our turnaround point, she went on ahead and another very experienced tri-er (who is also my swim trainer) hung back with me. I was embarrassed and I kept trying to push myself, but eventually I was riding slower than I could have jumped off and run, even at that very low and tired moment, and still I couldn't catch my breath! And then it got worse, my breathing that is, and I realized I was about to either hyperventilate or have my first asthma attack. It felt like when I had bronchitis...and, interestingly, it feels like that a lot lately. I had to slow down even more and just tried to relax and focus on my breathing, on calming my inhallations and exhalations and really absorbing each breath. It took a while before I felt better, but I couldn't pick up any speed after that. Still embarrased, but glad not to be turning blue in the face, I kept on going and enjoyed the rest of the ride. I was last and was not going to change that without a miracle. Acceptance, in some cases anyway, is bliss.

My swim trainer turned riding partner really did a great job of getting my mind off the ride and helping me to relax. She just started chatting...pointing out the view, the land, talking about different stuff...just distracting me from the voices in my head--no, not real voices, I'm not batty yet. I mean my own worst enemy--me. The me with the little voice that says "Don't be such a loser. Suck it up. You should be ashamed." I mean, where on earth did I pick up that little devil on my shoulder? Glad to find it could still be silenced if I put my mind to it.

At last the pinche ride was over and I got off that damn bike with the too low seat. The run was brief, and other than a couple of rests for badly knotting calves, I got through that well. And then it was over. Ta da. The group, um, regrouped and talked briefly about upcoming events, including the bike clinic that I plan on joining since I suck at riding as well as swimming (there's that voice again) and then we all took off.

I'm sitting here, still in my tri clothes, soaked through with sweat, sucking down my second G2--a sign that I'm very thirsty because these things taste like cough syrup--and finishing off some leftovers. I'm going to shower, play some Guitar Hero, watch Frasier ("these are a few of my favorite things...") and then sleep. Thank goodness I work from home tomorrow! I know this is a rather rambling and disjointed post, but I wanted to get my impressions about the night down before the sleep and dehydration make them fuzzy.

Overall I'd say it was a very positive experience--especially the bike ride. It was the most challenging shove inside my own head that I've had for a long while. I did alright if I do say so myself. Peace!

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back to the grindstone

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:15:08 -0700

Oh, three-day weekend, you come so seldom and yet go so quickly...

I had a great weekend--slashing many items off the to-do list (cat boxes, clean house, grocery shopping, lawn work, bathe ALL dogs) while playing much Guitar Hero and Rock Band (I beat the first on EASY, and am now midway through MEDIUM), trying out my new-to-me bike, actually swimming a few laps at the pool, and watching the first two Indiana Jones movies. And, of course, there was good food--for the most part--had by all. It was good times.

I worked all day today and it was very productive. Unfortunately, I found out that a couple of the folks I work with are dissatisfied with my performance. They did bring up a couple of things that I can definitely improve on--things we actually synced up on last week--but a few other 'items' were strange misunderstandings or oddly nitpicky. I feel confident in being able to CYA my way back off their shitlist, but it's still rather disconcerting and a bit embarrassing. My supervisor, though, was very supportive of me and helped me to weed through what she also disagreed with while stressing the importance of, in my words, playing the game of process. So that was work.

After I went to the gym and worked out, trying out my new running shoes for a quick mile warm-up, then lifting. I alternate upper and lower body on each visit, but always do abs, and I'm seeing a real improvement on my max. I had dinner at Magnolia with my sister, then we went back to her boyfriend's house to play Rock Band. Fun times.

Also tonight, I tried my hand at a friend's longboard (skateboard not surfboard). My first try went well. The second was short and spasmodic, but the last one...ah, priceless. I did the old weight on the wrong foot, step on the board, send board shooting forward, then pitch back in a sonic windmill to land flat on my back, on the street no less, staring up at the stars. I laughed my ass off--not sure how I managed, but I barely have a scrape on my elbow and a bit of an odd twisting of a couple of my toes; other than that, the fall resulted in zero injuries. I got back on the damned thing and tried again, but decided I was too tired to concentrate.

It's 2 hours later and I need to be in bed, but of course I had a ton to do when I got home and am just now winding down, feeling the pressure of heavy lids. So it's off to bed I go, so I can approach the grindstone tomorrow refreshed and alert, and ready to pummel the remaining bits of earth into the dust.

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back to the grindstone

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:15:07 -0700

Oh, three-day weekend, you come so seldom and yet go so quickly...

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Back to Neverland

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:17:28 -0700

Ok, not really. But we went back to Peter Pan Miniature Golf tonight--my sister, her boyfriend, and moi. We went last year just before my birthday near the end of July. Tonight was way, way hotter. Gross hot. So hot at 10 o'clock that we took rain checks for our second game and settled for finishing just the first course.

Still, it's a nifty place - a "dive" of a miniature golf outfit. Read the article linked above for background, but basically it's an Austin original that still has giant figures sculpted out of cement and rebar guarding each hole. (And the cashier has an old school snow cone machine too. The snow cones are a buck a piece.) So if you like mini golf, or golf, or enjoy nostalgic trips down memory lane, perhaps taking your children with you, then Peter Pan is a great place for you.

Of course, if you'd rather not hang with the family bunch, the kiddies usually clear out by evening...when Peter Pan allows B.Y.O.B. Santi bought a 12 pack of Tecate (puro El Paso!) for us to lug around. I didn't drink any, but I think he and Bri shared 3 or 4 of them. With the rest we made friends with the folks playing ahead of us. (The couple playing behind us who, as Santi remarked, looked like they could have used a drink declined our offer.)

So, aaaanyway...I should hit the shower because I am a stinko and Bri and Santi are on their way over to watch the Indiana Jones trilogy, which they are first renting/purchasing at the store. How lame is it, and how old am I, that neither one of them have seen all three? I think the only one they've seen is The Last Crusade--which is certainly great, but you can't miss out the others. That's like seeing Return of the Jedi without seeing A New Hope or Empire...ok, not quite at the same level, but you get the point.

And one last bit of fun -- I bought new running shoes today! Before I met the kids at Peter Pan I went to the new Hill Country Running Company on Lamar between Barton Springs and Riverside in South Austin. It's a local shop owned and staffed by local professional athletes. James was very patient with me, even staying 20 minutes after the store closed without rushing me, as he recommended shoe after shoe and had me try them out on the treadmill. I ended up with a pair of New Balance 1223s that I feel really confident about -- it sure helps to be able to run in shoes before you buy them. The customer service, though, by far made the real difference in my shopping experience. So if you need shoes, give Hill Country Running a try.

New shoes, new-to-me bike, and improving swim skills...I think maybe the Danskin is in reach. And in September, the Austin Triathlon...perhaps even the Olympic distance. That's right, I said it.

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Blabbity blah blah

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:44:47 -0700

I've been a little out of it the last couple of days...even last night as I was posting...I think I may have had a bit of a reaction to the tetanus shot. I've been really tired and a bit feverish--just a slight fever--but I don't feel bad otherwise. I decided not to run tonight to rest up and I am truly going to bed early as soon as I'm done with this little note.

I do need to get some miles in this week though. I haven't run since Saturday. Maybe I'll run after swimming tomorrow.I feel really good in the water now and I'm looking forward to it. I do wish the water at this pool were warmer though. Oh, and I'm really excited because I get to pick up my bike from the shop tomorrow, which means I'll finally be able to join the Saturday morning bike ride.

In other mundane news, I have misplaced/lost my Debit card. I looked for it for a good hour today, and I looked everywhere I could think of and even went through the outside trash can, but it didn't turn up. I should just mark it lost, but I know that the second I do and request a new card, I'll find the old one. It is the way of things.

Now that the financial dust is settling, it is time to look for a random job just lucrative enough to cover those student loans that I am finally going to begin making full payments on in June. I'm even considering looking for a retail position--I've never worked retail, or waitressed either, and while I hear they're shitty jobs at times, part of me wants to have those experiences under my belt, if for no other reason than for my filling out my writer's toolbox.

That's all the rambling I have in me today. Goodnight.

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I ran my first Capitol 10K!

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 21:28:11 -0700

With the remains of a sinus infection and cough, and in the rain no less! All things considered, I'm very pleased with my time. I ran a solid ten minute mile throughout and have only just stiffened up a bit. I'm tired and will likely be sore tomorrow, but I'm really glad I went through with it, cough and all.

I woke up late this morning, finally rolling out of bed after hitting the snooze button a half-dozen times, and promptly had an argument with myself about whether I should go at all. Obviously, my lazy self lost the argument, and I got my butt in gear. I dressed, handled the dogs, pinned my race bib on my shirt, took my shot of cough syrup and bolted out the door with water bottle and extra Clif bar in hand

The race started at 8:45. I walked into my place in the middle of the red pack (which is basically the middle of the middle) at about 8:35, just before the rain started coming down. It was mostly a light rain, but it was definitely constant and I was sopping wet before I even started running.

I have to say it was a great experience; it was so surreal to be running down Congress Avenue toward and around the Capitol building with no cars around. Just the sound of other runners' feet on the pavement and the soundtrack on my mp3 player. Then all the way around the backside of downtown, up past MoPac (Loop 1) and back through the heart of the city and finishing at Auditorium Shores. [By the way, my running soundtrack was great and quite eclectic. It consisted of some of the Legally Blonde musical numbers, about half of the soundtrack to Mortal Kombat--probably the best workout music EVER--and a little George to top things off. In fact, I was listening to Flawless as I crossed the finish line at 1:02:30.]

I don't want to get too crazy about this, but as I was running and the rain ran into my eyes, music in my ears, I was fortunate to find and listen to a little voice inside my head that kept a smile on my face for most of the course. Today was almost a year to the day since my husband left, and with every mile I reflected on just how far I've come in that time. I'm not the same and I'm not completely healed, but I'm alive, I'm hopeful, I'm daring and I'm proud. A few years ago I would never have considered doing an event like this and I would certainly never have shown up and done it on my own, but today it felt good...it felt comfortable and natural. Looking up at the sky through the trees over Enfield road, I said my great big thank you for a year of time well spent.

I can't wait to see what next year brings.

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Blah-bitty, blah blah and yoga in the mornings

nobody@vox.com(cageyness) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:36:49 -0700

A day of working from home is almost over. I quieted my hunger (a little) with a yummy bowl of oatmeal. The weather is springy today and should be summery tomorrow--breezy, warm, and perfect for going out on the town. I should be very cheery, but I'm feeling a bit blue...or maybe just tired...but the feeling drove me to sit down and scribble a bit of a journal out and so here I am.

I had planned to try to finish this other project for my consulting gig in the next few hours so I could try to get into Austin by about 9, but right now I'd rather put my pjs on and just relax for a bit before starting to work again, only that will put me behind on finishing the project. What to do, what to do...

PJs are totally winning out. I'd have to be home early anyway. Plus, I did want to try running again tonight, but...ugh, I'm so tired. Of course, tomorrow I'm taking a half day from work to watch a co-worker's band and then intend to stay downtown anyway, and there's no way in hell I'm going to work a run in then, so I suppose it all works out. PJs now, work, run tonight, sleep.

I would also like to get a pizza from Papa Murphy's and eat the entire thing tonight, but I think that is a bad idea from a nutritional perspective. In this lead up to the Cap 10k, and other events I still haven't decided on, I'm trying especially hard to eat really well. I wouldn't call it a diet, but I am definitely wearing a nutritionist hat lately and eyeing everything through a pie chart of fats, carbs, and proteins. The other issue is that I am trying to stay hydrated, so I'm drinking water like it's my job and hitting the ladies room with corresponding frequency.

My apologies for the inane details. I actually do have topics of substance to write about, but I'm just not up to the task right now. Maybe I'll tackle those things on Monday in a sort of weekend-in-review post.

One new development I'm not too tired to mention...I have started doing yoga in the morning first thing when I wake up. It may sound a little strange, but I like to do it in my master bathroom (which I keep very clean and is of a decent size) where the window faces east and the light increases with the sunrise. I don't put my contacts in or wear my glasses, but instead just run through my routine in semi-blindess. This sensory deprivation seems to make it easier for me to focus and to relax at the same time. It's very curious, but it works wonders for me. So far this week, the thought that I can do some yoga if I can get up in time is what has actually moved me out of my bed on time. Yes, I'm actually getting comfortable with yoga and not feeling like I want to cry when I do it. Of course, my morning routine is very simple and the poses are very modified, but I am looking forward to learning more as soon as I can. Thank you again to electric firefly and shush now for their encouragement a while back.

Ok, well that's all for now. SXSW will have to wait for tomorrow. And since I don't want to cook, I think Papa Murphy's is going to get some of my money in just a little while. I'm not actually going to eat the whole thing tonight though--if I did, I'd miss out on my other favorite way to start the day...cold pizza right out of the 'fridge!

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