Hello readers! I’m still here, just plugging along.
I played my recital last weekend. I had a weird case of the shaky nerves. I used to have issues with shaking back in college, and took beta blockers to help deal with it for a long time, but over the past few years I’ve been playing concerts without having any issues or taking anything and it’s been great. This summer it snuck up on me. I don’t know that I want to use the beta blockers again but I did get a new prescription just in case.
I was happy the recital was done but not super happy about it overall. I liked some things, loved some, and hated others. I’m just taking time to regroup and relax now. It’s been one of those weeks since then, between some extended family health issues, the presidential election stresses, and just normal life stuff. The weekend was really nice though and yesterday I had my first day off since August 28. Really. That’s the worst stretch (or best, depending on how you look at it 
) of work I’ve had in a long long time. Years? Ever?
The good news is that my bank account is back to looking good. It was a tough summer and even though our vacation was inexpensive as far as vacations go, it was still 3 weeks with no income. I do plan to sit down and start writing more about that (I’m sure you’re even tired of hearing me say that) but I haven’t quite had the energy yet. I’m getting back into running after hurting my foot (that’s part of the trip recaps) and generally being so ridiculously busy I couldn’t fathom it. It’s nice to do something good for oneself! Oh, and for the record, running is hard. Have I ever mentioned that?
Louie and I went for a hike yesterday afternoon. It was our first hike since our vacation in August and it was very nice. Hiking in Missouri isn’t like hiking in Colorado or Utah, but it still beats walking around on sidewalks! We went to West Tyson County Park and took the Flint Quarry Trail.
Pretty view! The leaves are falling and starting to look really pretty, even though the temps are still in the high 70’s in the afternoons here.
Oh, and I finally caught up on Orange is the New Black. Now watching the newest season of Longmire.
Performance anxiety sucks. I had to go on a beta blocker back in college for the same reason—fine in ensemble play, fine in rehearsals…solo performance time and BAM. It’s quite painful to think about.
Even now that I have changed careers, I still need them for big presentations because there is too much variability in what version of me might “show up” and the stress is not worth it. Speaking of which, I need to get a refill…
I do look forward to reading more about your vacation. Some of my friends and I are thinking about doing a mini RV trip next year and I love reading an honest recap/experience.