Luminous

I'm just a notch in your bedpost
But you're just a line in a song
- Fallout Boy

I love that line. I did the Cave Creek Luminaria run tonight and it was fun if not a little disappointing. See the luminarias? I didn't either. And the whole first half was uphill, which was rather a bitch and I did give up and walk some of the steeper parts. But the way down was delicious. I ran 11:18 miles which is better than the turkey trot, and my last mile was 10:34! So feeling good about that. I stuck around for the awards after taking 7 protein bars. Women in my age group ran 25 min, so lots of room for improvement. Maybe I will focus on 5k and 10k runs. They are fun and short.

I'm trying here

Take back your pictures
Take back your letters
Don't send me no postcards
Telling me you miss me
Cause I'm trying here
I'm trying here
- The Head and the Heart, Gone

It's easier to be happy when there are things to look forward to, like visits from family, delicious foods, organized runs, high stakes football games. With all of that gone, this week started in a funk. So I spent my morning furiously plotting my social calendar. Two tinder dates this week, two lunches with former colleagues, a wrestling meet, a gym holiday party I will force myself to attend for at least 30 minutes, and a charity event Friday. I'm thinking about doing a night run on Sat and Tempe Festivus of the arts is this weekend. So all is good, see? And this evening at 8:30 after fast food and chocolate cake, I forced myself out for a run, which was slow but good indeed. I said to a friend today that I think Tinder is scraping the bottom of the barrel, to which he replied, "it IS the barrel." I had to laugh. It's as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. I write this as I walk slowly around my block until I hit 10,000 blessed steps.

The Whirlpool Honeymoon is Over

I ran and swam today. There were rotten kids in the whirlpool, which irritated me. And churchy people, which irritated me even more. 

I've been accused of having somewhat of a potty mouth in this blog, by our audience of one. Which only makes me more determined to utilize the noble curses even more. Along with that spurious accusation, I was accused of what apparently is the fashion "don't" of the century in wearing black loafers with navy blue tights. In addition, I was asked when I became "such a drinker", endured snide remarks about how often I kiss my husband, was told "you have to admit you keep up on world events more than the rest of us" which I still can't figure out, since this was said as if it was something I should really work on. 

For all this joy and privilege, I spent around $700. 

Gotta love family. 

Anyway, I'm not sure if I want to stay with this rec center... I need to find a decent gym!!

My goddam piriformass hurts

Bite your lips, your words are robbery
Do you grin inside? You're killing me
All along we talked of forever
I kinda think that we won't get better
- Blink 182

Someone recently advised me that it's inappropriate to tell the internets that my ass hurts. So in the interests of the professionalism that this blog reflects, and out of respect for the worldwide audience, I will heretofore refer to my piriformass muscle, which is indeed the core of the issue. But it hurts today. I did 4.5 yesterday - 2 to gym, 1 with strength training, and 1.5 home. Dang good day! I ran 19 miles last week including a 5k Turkey Trot with my babies and sista. Most excellent for Thanksgiving week. Alas, I did just two today to the gym and I'm tired, so I just worked out the piriformass and am watching the Cards game. So grateful my blista sista was in town and all the good time and food spent with family. Nobody even broke down in tears although sadly I did have to burn my effigy.

My ass hurts

If we die in obscurity, oh well
At least we raised some hell
- Weezer, Back to the Shack

I ran to the gym today after dropping my car off a half mile from the house so the boy had a ride home from work. I am only a little ashamed to admit I spoil him like that. So 2 miles to the gym, then I watched the second half of the Cards game and scammed some guest passes for my peeps next week, then two miles home. I'm back at last. Only got two days in last week due to Colorado travel and happy hours and an odd fainting episode late Friday night. I did a very slow two miles last night because my tailbone hurts so bad from the fall. And I wasn't even drunk! I'm not sure whether to blame mom or dad for the weak asses we all seem to have inherited. I took Sophie to an art fair this morning and it was lovely. It's amazing how many people want to talk to me with that little one at my side. But then she pooped on the grass and I didn't have anything to clean it up with so we had to run. Literally.

They Tried To Make Me Go To Rehab

The man said "why you think you here?"

I said "I have no idea."

                      - Amy Winehouse

I can't remember if I blogged about it, but I ditched my boring gym that had nothing but treadmills and ellipticals but had the advantage of being cheap, and bought a membership to our local rec center, which boasts all kinds of things I might enjoy, like an indoor track, lots of classes, a lap pool and a whirlpool. So I've gone there a few times now and am very much enjoying myself. 

Today I ran three treadmill miles, next to some dumb lady in a running skirt and coordinated layering tops, which she progressively shed while walking. She ran a little but she mostly fidgeted, pulled, tugged, and otherwise adjusted her outfit. She had clearly put much more thought into the outfit than she had into the workout, as people who wear running skirts are prone to do. Meanwhile I was next to her in some capris I have literally worn for four years running and an old camisole that used to be white and I hadn't even brushed my teeth. But I will say this: I was still on that treadmill after she got off and I started before her. Some of us go to the gym to work out, see?

Then I wet to the pool and swam ten laps, and by laps I mean slowly propelling myself through the water in any way I see fit,  which nevertheless managed to take me 22 minutes and nearly killed me. 

Then I hit the whirlpool. I was initially very skeptical about it because it is right in there with the leisure pool where all the kids are, so I figured it would be full of annoying children with parents who aren't paying attention. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that kids under six aren't allowed at all and kids between six and twelve have to have an adult actually IN the water with them. And they must enforce the rules, because there were plenty of kids and parents but only me and two old men in the whirlpool. So it's nice, I can soak in some hot water while being reasonably certain nobody is peeing in it (although let's face it... You can never fully trust old men not to pee in the whirlpool). 

And now I am rewarding myself with a chipotle burrito whilst watching some football, and napping on the couch of righteousness. 

The No Skip Music Challenge

Ran four miles today and put my phone on shuffle all. Highlights included:

Blue Christmas - Elvis

The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor

Cannonball - Brandi Carlile

From the start of it all to the end of the line

So, I wrote one more story
I just don’t know how it ends
About all the boys you’re seeing
The ones that you
That you call your friends.

                      -Night Terrors of 1927

I ran three miles, walked another mile, and then swam ten laps only to find out my stupid Fitbit battery was dead and none of it counted!!! I mean sure, you could say I still was active so what does it matter, but you would then just be revealing yourself as an ignoramus! None of it matters unless I'm beating sandy! 

From the mouths of babes

The man who stands in front of you
Is not the sum of all his dreams
But I'm hoping they've got something in common
- Dawes, something in common

Well thank great goddess K came home this weekend to deliver the slap in the face I needed. We were out to dinner and they were quizzing me about my mood, and I shared my fears of being alone. K told me I was acting like she did after her cheer accident, and we talked about how at one point I told her she needed to get her shit together and find another path. She told me I need to do the same and get my ass out of the house. She was right. It is so hard for me to put myself out there. So today I ran to the gym and watched some football and then we got massages. Tonight I walked over to the local pub and had some dinner and watched football and had a very nice dinner conversation. I've put some local events on my calendar that I want to go to and I will go. I'm going to live my life and do the things I want to do and find my joy.

I watch the work of my kin bold and boyful

Toying somewhere between love and abuse

Calling to join them the wretched and joyful

Shaking the wings of their terrible youths

Freshly disowned in some frozen devotion

No more alone or myself could I be

Looks like a strain to the arms it were open

No shortage of sordid, no protest from me

                              - Hozier

I don't actually have anything to say, I just really wanted to quote that song, what with thanksgiving coming up and whatnot. 

I ran three miles and then walked until the dumb Fitbit said I had done enough.