Last week was the Jingle Bell Run. My morning workout buddy, B, met me by the St Pete Pier for the 2.9 mile wanna-be 5k. I’d like to say we were laughing all the way, but the last 3/4 I really pushed and could hardly talk. It felt good though to be able to tell myself “You’re almost there, just keep giving it your all until the finish line,” and then actually following through with it. I don’t always listen to my own voice in my head. I’ve given myself a small challenge – not at all running related. Every once and a while I get about 6 grey hairs. I have stopped pulling them out. Just to see if I can keep the promise to myself despite the temptation. Then maybe I can ignore my mother in law’s amazing fudge. Or push the final mile instead of the final 3/4… if you can’t trust the promises you make to yourself, what can you believe in?
Speaking of Laughing All the Way… I’m working on some family photos cards. I send New Years Cards for 2 reasons:
1. we’re not Christian, so we don’t send Christmas cards.
2. Almost everyone we send a card to the kids get a gift from, and they have to send a Thank You note anyway, so this doubles as a thank you note.
Our photos for the card came out OK, but there’s not a great one of the 4 of us, or a great one of the 2 girls together. So I’ve been playing in Photoshop with these…
******SPOILER ALERT******
4 Darrows but Brian not quite smiling
Card #2 starring Wendy with a cast on her arm
Card 3 backed by a photo I took of Alice
We decided “Laughing all the way” was too Christian. Actually, the song Jingle Bells has nothing to do with Christmas – the lyrics are about a sleigh ride. But don’t try explaining that to an 84-year-old Jewish great grandmother!
Saturday I ran with a friend from yoga. We did almost 3 miles and ended back along the water where there was a yoga for charity class, all money benefiting sharks. I love outdoor yoga when the weather is nice. There was a light mist in the air which kept me cool, and had the sky been a bit bluer it would have been perfect. But we got to see white pelicans out in the Bay during class, which are apparently rare. And everyone got a blue marble, so we’re now all part of the Blue Marble Game. I know who I want to pass mine to!
can you find me?
That night Brian and I went to a Grinchmas party and I saw “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for the first time. Yes, the cartoon, for the first time. It’s an annual party but I am usually socializing or popping in and out with other parties to attend. This time I plunked myself down and watched the movie!
Sunday I took a friend out shopping. In May I lost a dear friend to cancer, and her 14 year old daughter was in desperate need of new underthings. 5 hours later she got 7 bras, 11 pairs of panties, some clothes, some holiday gifts, and I had a few items too. We had Bra 101 lessons: wear dark under black, wear nude under white, wear the right band size so hopefully you don’t sag in the future, wear a sports bra that does it’s job, bras shouldn’t dig or poke, etc. I think she was relieved to not have to bra shop with dad.
In the evenings, my girls are busy with studying for midterms, science fair, history fair and the like. I’m planning winter break and Ragnar Florida Keys. Therefore, I’ll have to try to get all AM workouts in this week. This morning was 75 mins core yoga, and I think tomorrow is boot camp in the park. Off I go to plan the circuit! Other than running, what’s your favorite outdoor workout?
