July 21, 2009
After a 7:00 p.m. yoga class last night w/ Tracy the 5:15 a.m. alarm was not a welcome sound to say the least. I’m not sure what it was that moved me to get up have a bowl of cereal and cup of coffee and get out the door – but whatever it was I would like to bottle and sell it.
I purposefully followed a lady into the cycling room that looked like she knew what she was doing. Watched her adjust her seat and tried to act like I knew what I was doing as I adjusted mine. I hopped on the bike and that was the last time today that my legs have felt normal.
Melissa, our instructor, had the sweet kindness to begin the class by saying “Everything is optional. Everyone can work at their own pace.” But once she sat on her bike I think she became a different person. First observation, the LOUD, rhythmic music makes you feel like you could ride a million miles (cue Boom, Boom Pow re-mix). Second observation, first observation is null after 10 min.
At one point sweet Melissa was yelling “Get up, get up, push, push, push!!!” A few moments later she was sitting on the floor in front of the bike next to me pushing a towel up against the bike’s spin wheel yelling “get up, push, push, push, sit down… now get up, push!!” In my sweat drenched and dripping head I’m asking myself… isn’t she making it harder for that girl? And that’s the way it went for 45 min until everyone got their turn at Melissa’s one-on-one attention.
I’m already craving my next class…. sadistic, I know.
OH… and as I’m always making mental notes to myself… this morning’s was a reminder that post-spin-class legs don’t take the stairs without jiggling like J-E-L-L-O –- quite embarrassing actually!
June 1, 2009
After three weeks in a wretched boot up to my knee and three more weeks of choosing what to wear based upon what goes with comfortable running shoes… I FINALLY JUST JOGGED MY FIRST MILE!
Oh how good it felt when my feet hit the soft track, my heart rate went up, and I started to sweat. The day the doc showed me the MRI and said “You won’t be running the Country Music Half Marathon and I want you on crutches wearing a boot” is still a very vivid memory. The crutches lasted until I got to my car threw them in and then proceeded to wail like a child. I cried and begged and pleaded for the stress fracture to not be there. I cried for the loss of something I love to do. Six weeks seemed like an eternity at the time. And I won’t dare say it still doesn’t feel that way. In the grand scheme of things though I’m sure this will only be small potatoes.
The waiting has made today so much sweeter! It will be a slow recovery process, but I am so thankful.
August 5, 2008
I haven’t thought of the image of a ‘crown of jewels’ since I was a child. Until recently.
A couple of things have brought back that child-like image of this golden crown laden with diamonds, rubies, and saffires.
My sixth grade teacher, Ms. Pickett died this week. One of my memories of Ms. Pickett is her walking out of our split 5th and 6th grade classroom because we made her cry. (God forgive me?) Ms. Pickett was a God-send to so many people. My sister, brother and I would sometimes catch a ride to school with her along w/ several other kids that were along the way. She drove a gray, rattly, old station wagon. I was embarrassed by it at the time. She raised Chris, Kathy, and Lilly (several of the kids I went to school with) and was also a foster parent to so many other children. Ms. Pickett loved children – that was her calling. I had toothpaste smeared all over my face at a Middle school girls slumber party at her house. Ms. Pickett must have been somewhere in her 80’s. And when I heard about her passing this week… I stopped and said a prayer for the family that is dealing with her loss. And then I praised God, because there is not a doubt in my mind that Ms. Pickett stands on streets of gold today. Without question – she is wearing a crown of jewels that causes her to stand out among the saints.
My mom was recently telling me about a friend of hers that is dying of cancer. Every single time my mom tells me Melanie stories my eyes well up with tears. Life is so short. Expectations are often shattered. Melanie didn’t take a single sick day in somewhere around 15-20 years. Not a single sick day. Melanie was diagnosed and is now losing the battle to the cancer in her body. My mom has walked with 2-3 other dear friends and their fights against cancer. But you know the thing that amazes me about this? None of these women were believers prior to their battles. I’ve observed, as you walk with someone through an experience like this, you help them laugh, you meet the little needs they have – this affords you the opportunity to show them a love that is eternal. There is a crown with many jewels waiting in heaven for my mom. More importantly than that… she is going to have a reunion with the women that she helped lead to eternity.
That image of a gaudy golden crown with multi-colored jewels stuck. What may have been just a Sunday school childhood image has become much more real to me this week.
July 28, 2008
Sunday night the family packed picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs and headed to The Carnton Plantation. We had quite a spread of food thanks to mom and Jen. Delicious summer treats like cucumber sandwiches, cantaloupe, fruit tea – yummy! What was my contribution to this picnic feast, you ask?? Publix brand Oatmeal Cookies and Jelly Belly Sour Cherries. El lame-o! I know, but those Oatmeal Cookies were a hit!
It was easily 93 degrees with 99.9% humidity, but the heat wasn’t going to stop us or about 1,000 other people from having a good time. By the end of the evening (after most folks had had enough alcohol to loosen ‘em up) folks were having a good ol’ time dancing to the Temptations, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire. Now that’s music! As I was enjoying the Scat Springs Band play hit after hit it took me back. Now before you start calculating my age; I’ll go ahead and say that most of these songs were recorded before I was born. My parents must have been a little late getting on board the Soul Train, but once they did they were all out fans. I can remember listening to The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and The Four Tops over and over again – what great memories!
Anyway… the family had a great time last night making new memories with little Jake dancing to the music. At some point during the evening I couldn’t help but wonder… what will be the Motown of Jake’s generation? What songs will be replayed 40 years from now with folks singing along and smiling at the memories they bring?
Jake’s Stevie Wonder impression…
July 27, 2008
There are a few things that are free therapy for me: catching up w/an old friend, long talks with my best friend, running, and yes, cleaning. For the most part I tend to keep a tidy house. I believe that this is something that is passed down from the woman that birthed me and the woman that birthed her. Seriously, my grandmother’s house was always tidy. My mom’s house… well let’s just say now that it’s listed for sale a dirty coffee mug and the morning paper are unacceptable to leave out. Keeping a clean house is something that is a joy for me.
All of that is true except on the rare occasion that I need to remind myself of the luxury of a tidy house. 
I’ll spare you the details, but my house was pleading to get back to its tidy self. The mood hadn’t struck me until this morning. So, first things first, I sat down and created a new iTunes playlist. Who cleans without music playing?? Once that was established – let the therapy begin! While cleaning today here are the things I was able to work through in my messed up psyche…
Persistent problems can be solved when you think outside the box. My bath tub has been a frustrating obstacle when I clean. You see, I have those little gritty grip polka dot things on the bottom of my bathtub. The things that are supposed to prevent one from slipping in the shower (why haven’t they prevented me from slipping I’ll never know) . But these little polka dots are not removable; they are in the porcelain. And the only thing they do is show dirt! I’ve tried Comet, Soap Scum Remover, hydrocholric acid… nothing has been effective. Until today! Mr. Clean has the coolest little Magic Eraser scrubber. So today I thought, “why not?” Let me tell you… I was so excited when I sprinkled a little Comet, scrubbed with the Magic Eraser, and walllllaaaaaa! Grimy polka dots are no more! WOO HOO!!! I’m so excited! So excited I keep going back, opening the shower curtain, and looking again. Liberating I tell ya. Conquering a persistent problem is empowering!! I can’t wait to move on to the next challenge… bring it on.
What doesn’t make you bitter makes you better. My mom has always said this. When I was younger and much more immature (uhhh like yesterday) I used to quote this using a sassy, whiny tone. As I’ve made attempts at growing up and becoming psychologically mature I realize that there is a whole lot of truth to this statement. And while I seek to let go of that which brings negativity and bitterness to my soul I occasionally find myself saying or doing something that just reeks of revenge or bitterness. When this happens I pray that it is brought to my attention so that I can immediately correct those habits or thought patterns. Anyway… this is where the proof that cleaning is good therapy comes in. When you realize your ex-boyfriends toothbrush is still in your toothbrush holder… it is ok and completely acceptable to use it clean the nooks and crannies of your bathroom. In fact, it is also liberating and empowering. WOOO HOOOO!!
What is free therapy for you?
January 23, 2008
One of my goals for ‘08 is to learn Photoshop. I’ve had the software for probably 5 years and never gotten further than screwing up a whole lot of photos. After checking several books out at the library and taking some online tutorials I am making slow progress.
January 21, 2008
Thought I’d take a leap into the world of blogging. We’ll see how long this phase lasts. I am known (probably mostly by myself and family) for starting projects because they seem intriguing. The excitement to learn is what gets me. I get so excited about a new project/skill that “I’m going to learn everything about it”. For example knitting, crocheting, stamping, hmmm… running. Typically, a few months later I get bored, frustrated, tired, or injured and the project ends up in the closet. What’s that phrase “jack of all trades, master of none”?
Well maybe this will be a place where my latest interests can be spelled out for the world to see. So what are my latest interests you say? Well I suppose the future posts, if there are to be any, will reveal that.
This is a hint to one of them.
