Running is always a good idea

Blogging before coffee leads to a lot of negative thoughts.  I must seem despondent to some of you!  I’m okay.  It’s been a tough week but I’m doing fine.  You learn to put on a good face, stand up straight, and fake it.  I think I’m pretty good at that.

That said, I met Jen for a run this morning and it was JUST what I needed.  It was the best run I’ve had all week—I didn’t start to feel nauseous until after 3 miles (heat nausea people) rather than the usual 2.  We had a great time chatting too, and I felt fantastic afterwards.  Then I was on twitter and saw THIS:

runninginspiration

(sorry for no hyperlink, just a screenshot.  I need to do more research.)

I’m a running inspiration!  I was so flattered.  I suppose I would be better off if I didn’t compare myself to insane people like skinnyrunner and Mike and instead considered that running 4 to 5 times a week is probably pretty good, even if I’m not doing sub-7 minute miles or running 10 to 15 miles each time.  Then again, how many of you read my blog just waiting for the trainwreck?  I presume my neurotic personality is part of the appeal here…

Either way, thanks Maddie, for making my afternoon!  (#FF means “follow friday”, where you can recommend folks to follow on twitter.  I didn’t know that until very recently.)

Mike had to reschedule for tomorrow, so today is ending up being just a one workout day (no problem) which means I’ll have time to do a bit more practicing, once I get off the computer.  And Jen invited me to hang out with her tonight; we are meeting some other people in Maplewood.  I’ve got 4 new students to meet/teach first, so it should be a fun day.  And I completed my passport application.  I don’t know where we are going for honeymoon yet, but my passport expired, so now is a good time to get that ready, just in case.

So I am okay.

This is why I run.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewandaliciakratzat

The more you know

This week has both flown by and dragged.  It’s weird.  I had a late start to the week since I didn’t really get back to work until Tuesday.  What have I been doing all week?  (Other than obsessively stalking facebook for information on my friend’s accident…).

Yesterday I went to Blackberry Cafe with friends.  It was technically a business meeting, though I was meeting my friends Jen and Laura.  They had some things to talk to me about regarding Chamber Project St Louis, and I expect soon there will be an exciting announcement about some fantastic things they are doing.  But I’m not supposed to say anything yet.  Blackberry Cafe was good.  I had the falafel wrap, and instead of chips I had a banana (those were the options).  The man working (the owner?) was really friendly and nice.  He spent a little bit of time telling us how to tell that a $20 bill was counterfeit, so the lunch was both tasty and informative.  The more you know.

image

I’ve also been doing a fair bit of teaching at my new school.  I’m teaching three days a week now at the St Louis School of Music.  I’ve been meeting with many potential new students, and I have four more today.

I’ve also been practicing EVERY DAY since I got home from Chicago.  I’ve been focusing on standing up straight the whole time.  This might sound obvious, but it wasn’t for me.  It’s amazing how often I lean over or lean forward while playing and I have been working on standing up straight all the time.  Bonus:  I actually sound better when standing up straight.   Second bonus:  back/shoulders/arms feel okay for now.

I’ve been trying to get my runs in, but GOODNESS this weather is atrocious.  The excessive heat warning is going on for what, two weeks now?  and I’m completely over it.  All I can do is my best, go slow, end up feeling nauseous halfway through and suffer through the rest.  I just keep telling myself this will help out when the weather is cooler…right?  Today I’m meeting Jen for a run (shortly) and later have a workout with Mike.  Yes, it’s a double day…wheeeeeeee!  Weight-loss wise, I’m not back to where I was yet before my Chicago trip so I fear I’ve failed on the contest front.  I think it was worth it though, but I can’t help but feel disappointed.  Nonetheless I will continue the path on my own—I still want to lose some more weight and I will continue to work towards that goal.  My biggest weakness is eating out, and I’ve been doing that much more with Chris being out of town.  Once he returns it’ll be a little easier.  And I’m now only one pound up from last week, so I’m getting back there…but I really had hoped to be one pound down.  (Yes, I’m aware one pound isn’t a huge deal, sue me, I’m neurotic.)

I meet Mike this afternoon and he’ll ask what I’m doing this weekend.  The answer is, well, geez, I don’t actually have any plans.  And then I’ll feel BAD about it, like I’m 13 years old and getting made fun of again.  As if I have to have super awesome plans all the time.  I’m 33 years old!  Sometimes my joints ache.  Tuesday he suggested I take two or three weeks off from drinking and “see how great I feel.”  Then he asked if I ever use a steam room (he knows full well my gym doesn’t have one).  I hadn’t complained about feeling bad, in fact, I thought I felt fine.  Evidently I looked awful and run down, I guess…maybe I don’t pass for 26 all the time after all?  😉

funny-pictures-kitten-has-chair

(I’m aware it’s an unrelated picture.  It’s just cute.)

I’m just lucky to be able to not have plans…to be able to do whatever I want…to be awake and not in a medically induced coma…to have loads of friends all over the world who would rally around me just as much as people are rallying around Alicia (I think…then again she might be nicer…)…we sit there, on facebook, waiting for that little red notification box that means somebody has written something in the group…

I have to make sure that isn’t my weekend plan—sitting at the computer waiting!  I have a stack of magazines to catch up on, some Harry Potter books to reread, and a few other things to do (cleaning…cough, cough).  I also need to finish getting all my invitation stuff ready (for the wedding!) and figure out what the next step is with the rest of the planning.

So, I’m not going to ask what your plans for the weekend are.  I’m just going to ask you to stay cool, and keep thinking of my friends Alicia and Andrew.