It’s been a long time since a post. Sometimes I feel guilty about that, but then I remember that I have a life and sometimes that life takes precedence over a blog I swore I’d keep updated. Life happens, and some days I feel like I’m barely hanging on. Perhaps those days would be good for a post (good writing seems to come out of those “helpless” days) but those days are usually the days I literally can’t find a spare minute during the day.
Since it’s been so long since I’ve written, I expected to have one great, cohesive idea for a post. Instead, I have lots of little things floating around in my head and I can’t land on one. So it’s time for a bullet post.
– I’m feeling chilled this morning. This may sound weird, but that actually makes me excited. As I wrote about in my last post, I’m excited about fall’s arrival, and thus cold weather is only announcing it’s arrival all the more. Although I don’t like being cold, it makes me think of many happy things. More excuses to drink hot beverages, fun colorful scarves to supplement an outfit, a fireplace with a soon to be raging fire in it, warm blankets to snuggle under, and that delicious feeling of coming inside after taking a walk in the cold when the warm heat envelops your body. Plus, I bet my hot shower is going to feel even better than usual in a few minutes.
– I went back to the doctor last week for another feel up. That is, I had a follow up exam after my mammogram a month ago. I was told at my initial visit to come back in a month if all results were normal. I wasn’t messing around with this, so I did as I was told, and made a follow up appointment. The doctor applauded me for following orders, checked me carefully, and proudly proclaimed that I was completely normal. She encouraged me to keep up with my self exams each month, and gave me some tips for how to do them. I told Drew that if nothing else, this experience was going to encourage (scare) me to actually do my self exams. It’s like flossing. I have the best intentions, but then just don’t follow through. Often I just forget. I took care of that problem by putting an alarm in my phone and setting it to repeat every thirty days. I don’t think I’ll have any more excuses.
– Speaking of boobies, my work is taking part in a breast cancer walk later this month. I think I will actually walk in this one. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to support breast cancer research before. I think it’s a worthwhile cause, and I always applauded efforts like this. I just never felt that I needed to be there. I don’t know why this year is different. Maybe it’s because I had a bit of a close call. Maybe it’s because too many friends surrounding me are being affected by this damn disease. Either way, I feel led, and I’m going to follow through with the nudge.
– I just finished my latest book last night, Memoirs of a Geisha. I found this book at a garage sale for about a quarter. I had heard a bit about it and knew that there was a movie based on the book. Since it was so cheap, I picked it up. The book almost immediately drew me in, and I had trouble putting it down. I needed to finish it this weekend so I could resume my life. In addition to a busy week, I think any spare moment I had was devoted to reading this book; in an effort to unwind and also because I was so hooked. (I think Drew was also glad I was done.) I was amazed at how well researched it was, and also how well a man was able to write from the perspective of a scared little Japanese girl. It was extremely convincing. It was interesting to read a book not only based in a different culture, but also in a different time period; the 1930s. I highly recommend this book.
– I can hear the roar of the garbage truck in the distance. I was trying to motivate myself to take a walk this morning, as I’m trying to keep up with some more physical, cardio kind of exercise. I’ve been diligent in keeping up with yoga, and have been pushing myself a bit (most weeks) but I can tell I still get easily winded and want to do more cardio. Long, brisk walks seem to be best for me. I’ve tried running, and my knees aren’t big fans. I will eventually drag my dusty bike out of the garage and do some bike riding, but in the meantime, walking it is. I enjoy morning walks, since it’s quiet and peaceful. I couldn’t quite motivate myself to do it this morning though, and now I’m glad as I remember it’s trash day. I’ve tried walking Monday mornings, and those peaceful morning walks are ruined as I run for my life from the garbage truck that’s hot on my heels. I think a peaceful morning in with coffee and blogging was the better choice. I’ll walk when I get home tonight.
Now it’s time for that hot shower.
