The Treasure of a Month Well Spent

This has been quite a busy month and quite fulfilling. I learned a lot, lived a lot and enjoyed it all. I can’t wait to get cracking with February.

Daily: Get back on track after the holiday with eating well and working out daily. 

January Update: No excuses for my backtracking except the weather. I just love to walk and with temperatures below zero it’s a little hard to get outside.

February Goal: When the temperature is above 20, no excuse not to walk. Plus, writing it down will take precedent.

Weekly: Learn something new in crafting each week – a stitch, a technique, even a term.

January Update: This has been great. I learned how to cable stitch, 2 applique lessons, learned how to make a Quillow and reintroduced myself to the crochet chain stitch. 

February Goal: I have so many new things to learn this month, including how to knot an infinity scarf and all the lessons for making a Jelly Roll quilt (that will be several lessons.)

Monthly: Read 3 books a month – one fiction, one nonfiction, and a classic. So far I picked out for January The Book Thief, Why Christianity Must Change or Die and The Frontiersmen.

January Update: Loved The Book Thief, still reading Why Christianity Must Change or Die (there is a lot to think about there) and just couldn’t muddle through The Frontiersmen.

February Goal: Keeping the fiction choice light with the final book of the Caster Chronicles, Beautiful Redemption, staying on the spiritual side with Dyer’s Wishes Fulfilled and taking a classic look at The Awakening.

Seasonally: Winter/Spring (Jan-Apr): Taking online courses in graphic design and social media to build my resume and reputation.

January Update: InDesign and Photoshop classes are going great. I’ve even designed a brochure for one of my volunteer clients putting my knowledge to real-world use. Ditto with the social media.

February Goal: Continue with these studies and I plan on finishing my basic InDesign lessons this month. 

Yearly: Bible Study.

January Update: I completed half of The Gospel According to Mark and have developed several new insights so far into this story of Jesus.

February Goal: Continue with Mark and move on to Matthew to get yet a different perspective of this much-told story. 

Balance, Breathing and Body – 40 Days of Thankfulness

Sometimes one just needs a good stretch.

For several months my main form of exercise was a few miles of walking each day. I love walking so this is perfect for me since I can be in silence and meditate or I can listen to one of my favorite podcasts or books and learn a little something.

About a month ago, my friend Elisa invited me to go to yoga with her in a nearby town. I love it. I’ve done yoga for years and used to be a regular at a yoga place in St. Pete. Unfortunately the price got a little out of hand and I just could pay the $20 a session. I did yoga at home and I still do from time to time to help calm my nerves. I wanted to see what yoga would be like in a conservative community since it is not only a physical and mental practice, but a spiritual one as well (which can fit in with all other beliefs).

It is different here with more emphasis on the physical and pushing some limits that I am not used to, but all-in-all I like it. The hardest part of going to yoga is “going to yoga” since the class is at 6:15 (still early) and outside is pitch black and cold! I will push through this and reap the benefits of this wonderful class.

I have even started taking my practice at home more seriously so that I can have the full experience of body, mind and spirit. 

9 Days of Christmas

One of the benefits of working from home is that I actually get to take breaks throughout the day. And today I am taking care of myself during those breaks by dancing my little heart out.

This is no easy task since I am still suffering from ankle issues, but On-Demand has a variety of dancing workouts that aren’t so bad. There’s Bollywood for alluring full-body movements, Salsa which is one of my favorites, Hip Hop, even though this does make me feel a touch old and, of course, striptease. I can already feel my body getting sore from some of the moves, but it is a very fun way to work during the day.

But that’s not all. Tonight I am going to my Latin Dance Class and make sure that all the stress is shimmied away.

Just Me Weekend

As last weekend was a whirlwind of people and places to see, this weekend is the polar opposite with the only similarity being the heat. I dwelled in cube land all day thinking only of what to do with my three days of Just Me Bliss. (No wonder I had a hard time figuring out how cloud computing and virtualization make the world go round.)

Coming off the Julia and Julie high I have been on for weeks, I set about with a very flexible plan to make this weekend just as exciting as the last, just with less people and spending less money. As an INFJ, I need a plan at all times. Flying by the seat of my pants is not recommended for my sanity and since there is only a smidgeon left, I had to treat it with care.

Food – cook new recipes from the South Beach books that have yet to be returned to the library. See Julia’s book was being requested by another resident on the waiting list, but South Beach books are free and clear to be re-checked out as often as my little carb-free heart desires. Plus, as my last entry got me thinking, I want to go through at least some of the printed-out recipes I have and see what I can make. You ask, Just for one person? Well there is always another work week and willing guinea pigs to chow down on my leftovers.

Love – Spending more time with the kids is necessary for not only my heart, but theirs as well. I have missed them so. Unfortunately it is too hot to do much outside, but we can play inside and make time for kitties too. Maybe even catch up with some old friends.

Art – Knitting!!! Even better knitting flowers. Since there are so many projects I want to do (preferably knit flowers) I will work on those I already started and tease myself with the knitty bits. How to do this with the pups around is another thing to plan out since they don’t like when I take their yarn.

Exercise – I have rejoined the Y and am looking forward to getting back on the ball this weekend (that sounded naughty). I quit WW and my office gym giving myself an extra $15 a month after paying for the Y. It is closer to my home, has more to offer and now even has dance classes – sweet.

Rest – There is something to be said for lounging around. I lounged at Patrick’s, but this weekend is alone rest time and I get to choose what to watch and when. Plus there is nothing else exciting beckoning me to leave the comfort of my couch and bed. So far I have “Repo: The Genetic Opera” and “The Secretary” to watch. I’ve been waiting for the right moment for “Repo”, and found that the small cinema near my house has a group that is doing auditions for the piece. It’s sort of like a Rocky Horror Musical Thing. I was going to watch it with Guy, but that never transpired so I get this weekend for Just Me. Then there’s “The Secretary”. This is the second time I am watching the stunningly cute as he got older, James Spader and the wild Maggie G as they perform the rituals so many couples desire in their bedrooms. My first time was with a boyfriend who was very into the oh so nice on the outside, dirty on the inside theme (but the rest of that story is documented only in my memoirs).

So that is what I have planned. Don’t know if I will blog or not since that seems like I am being social and sometimes Just Me time is about being well … Just Me.

To Gym or Not To Gym - I hate this question

I hate going to the gym, really hate it. I am signed up at the gym at work and I used to like it, before I got hurt and when I didn’t know anyone. Now I feel very anxious every time I think about going.

Why? It’s all me so these words are not to label or damage anyone, but it is filled with “the beautiful people”. You know, those who have always worked out and never had any major concern about their butt being too big, though they like to act like “normal” people and make statements such as, “My ass is getting so big.” “I can’t believe I ate a whole piece of pizza last night.” “I really need to work out more, I am starting to pooch.” I hate them. Hate is really a strong word, but I do hate what they represent: Something I wish I could be, but am too lazy and genetically faulted to be. So I debate if I should just do it and realize that they don’t even notice me and if they do I am merely reassuring them of their superiority, like a goodwill ambassador from a third world country visiting the States for the first time.

My choices: Workout more at home in the evening, very hard for me to do; Take the dogs for more walks (2 a day) and ride my bike; Just keep hoping. Man, I am really messed in the head with this, a symptom of my last relationship. I have everything I need; shoes, shirt, workout pants. I have the time; it’s a slow day. I have the desire to be healthier. I have the Catholic guilt to make me feel like crap if I don’t go. So, I may as well just do it. Dang it.

Now I have to go. Renee just informed me that we are having very expensive cake for breakfast tomorrow morning. I must pay the piper before I sup on the reward.

Doubting Patricia

My Finn, He's such a brute - look at the carnage he leaves behind!
I doubted I would feel as good as I do today. I was so achy yesterday from my workout that I was sure it would last for another day or two, but I was wrong, thankfully. As the pounds drop from all this moaning and groaning, lifting and squatting, and spinning and curling, I am pleased with my stamina. Put all my woes in one bucket and it isn’t even half full. Working a half day with the garage sale yesterday made me want to relax today.

I’ve found that if I plan out my menu for the week on Sunday, I am more likely to stick to it, therefore saving time, money and losing weight. The weight loss has been slow since there has been so much going on, but my routine is always going to be challenging. I need some semblance of a mindless path, and making little chores for me helps. Of course when Finn gets here, it will all change.

Speaking of Finn, only 11 more days. I am so excited. I still need to get a kennel, a bed, doggie dishes (need food dishes for Lassie too), food and treats. I have plenty of stuffed toys (I need to take the plastic eyes off and sew up the holes a la dead cartoon characters) and I am knitting him a blanket for his bed. I think I may make him a bed at some point, or a pillow or something along those lines. When he gets bigger I can make him a collar and some clothes that he will hate me for.

Polly wants out of her bath!

We gave the puppies their first bath today at Patty’s and working in assembly-line fashion we really got it grooving. They looked so cute water logged and wondering what else we had in store for them. In the evening Patty and Jim came over to Ronn’s for dinner. I felt like the cool mom at the kool-aid house with Ronn, Jim and Patty all rocking out to a Godsmack video while I labored in the kitchen cooking steaks, roasting potatoes, sautéing mushrooms and tossing salad. I really wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tomorrow I hope for less leg pain and maybe a bike ride.

Song List

I have been spending my mornings, two so far, riding my bike. I thought it was toast since it had been over a year since I rode and the tires were flatter than flat. But in the despair of having to move my body the other night I pumped up the tires and set loose. This morning I went out for about 30 minutes and explored the adjacent neighborhoods checking out the menagerie of different era homes and landscaping (all big in my sights with the re-dos I am in the process of doing.) Trees are filled with tangerines and oranges and snowless lawns sparkle instead with sweated dew.

I let the iPod pick the tunes and it really did a fine job starting me off with Alive and Kicking (Simple Minds) which got my blood flowing and the burn in my thighs ignited. Respect (Aretha) set me on my path, in yes a clichéd way, as to why I am working so hard to take care of myself. This Corrosion (Sisters of Mercy) sent me to those nights spent in the clubs and finding my niche with the night people (so not me now). As I started to slow down, Rock This Town strung me up to pump even harder and Brian Setzer’s sexy jazz voice made me remember that I used to love dancing to this beat. The iPod then chose Electric Barbarella (Duran Duran) showcased the damned desire for perfection that some people seek no matter how shallow. My mood started to falter as the endorphins seemed to rise and fall (I didn’t know they would do that when one was still in the throws of exercise) and Natural One (Folk Implosion) revved me up again with a drum beat to die for. Finally to slow down, but not pass out In Bloom (Nirvana) rang through my ears and let me work into my day nicely.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience. I felt very alive, very fit and even a bit thinner just taking care of myself. I think this will be a new habit and I wonder what the iPod gods have in store for my ears and soul tomorrow.

Focused

Keeping busy and keeping focused are now my two hobbies. It’s been a week and I feel a bit better since these two companions have kept me at ease, at least the past couple of days. I am focused on creating a healthy and tasty diet and am more focused on what I eat, writing down each portion and being conscious of how I feel before, during and after a meal. It is hard work, but it keeps my mind off of other things and in tune with the future. I shared my new plan with Wayne and Renee and they gushed with enthusiasm first telling me how great I was anyway and then saying how proud of me they were. This will help me stick to it since they believe in me.

I am focused on exercising and staying in motion, keeping busy riding my bike in the morning (takes the place of crying) and working out at the gym after work (tired muscles make everything sort of Zen). I am adopting a new habit of finding fun ways to exercise like riding my bike to Renee’s or downtown to have lunch; going to more of the classes offered at my gym – mainly yoga and body sculpt; riding my bike or walking before work since it feels fresh and crisp and wasn’t something I could do when I wasn’t alone. I even danced around the house yesterday to my teenage favorites creating sort of an 80s new wave/punk aerobics routine. Got to be careful with the ankle though.

I am focused on creating a couple knitted gifts. I am not doing Christmas gifts this year since money is tight all over and I only can knit so much. Instead I am working on a piece for the family gift exchange and a couple overdue birthday gifts. It keeps my hands busy as I watch TV. The TV and Netflix helps me think about something other than my situation so I can only watch sci-fi, comedies (non romantic), adventures, documentaries, crime biographies and cooking shows.

I am focused on finishing Twilight. I am struggling and feel very left out since it seems to be like crack for everyone else who reads it. Edward, the main character, is romance times a thousand and that is a bit hard to handle, but I am going to muddle through, especially since there is supposed to be a big payoff in the end. It keeps me busy as I dive into this green world of vampires, average girls and high school. Honestly, if this was around when I was 16, I would have been all over it since I would have loved a hot young vampire as a boyfriend.

I think that I will go to the Artfest in Safety Harbor this weekend by myself to get back into that mode and maybe spend Saturday downtown getting to know my surroundings again and getting a good ride and walk in. I need to have some sort of schedule or I may become anxious about these changes. I may even cut my hair to further accentuate the change in me.

And all of this seems to be working well. I ignore the love songs, the news of impending doom and the empty words in my head putting me down. Instead I stay focused and ready and upbeat. That in itself is a pretty big job, but someone has to do it.