The Learning Curve of Life

Sometimes, life throws you a few lessons. Here are some I have learned this week:

• If you begin the washer, make sure that there are actually clothes in it.
  
• If you carry around a large purse with several odd items (pretzels, a bike lock, a fork), eventually people will notice.
• Scheduling a full day's worth of appointments on the last day of the fiscal year is not a smart idea.
• The world did not end on June 30, 2010, as previously though by several of my co-workers. A new computer system+Medicaid changes does not = Apocalypse.
• I likely will not remember this individual day years from now. Whether it was horrible or great really will have little bearing on what I think of myself at this age.
• 26 is my currently lucky number. It's the number of years I am, the number of months ahead in my student loans I am, and the number of miles I will likely run in October at an upcoming marathon.
• Apparently, I remind people of being depressed because I am a therapist.
• Aromatherapy and a night out of complaining and talking about life really do do wonders for stress levels.
• Too many days of training will lead to dead legs...boy, is that fun.
• The only day I borrow a vehicle outside of my family, there will a car accident with it.
• Taking my car to the shop does not necessarily guarantee that it will be totally fixed.
  

Snapshots of a weekend

This weekend, I went to a local coffee shop with friends on Friday morning to catch up, worked, and then went to Shrek 4 with one of the teens from youth group.

Sat. morning consisted of a long bike ride, my inability to read a clock, and therefore, a late (but long) study session with my coworker for our Licenses of Clinical Social Work (LCSWs), plus a swim at the Y. Our family's dinner conversation went something like this:
Kristen (my sister): You know, I have been eating a lot of cheese lately.
Me: Yeah, I have had a lot of dairy today. What does that do to you?
Kristen: Give you kidney stones.
Me: No...not for one day. I think you must have GI problems because you talk a lot about how food affects you on the other end.
Kristen: You know, I had a dream about my bones.
Me: I had a dream I was incarcerated for contempt of court. But I still don't know what I did. I was able to wear my regular clothes and the lobby looked like an airport. Kristen, you visited, but Mom and Dad, I don't know if you did.
Mom: She probably brought you your bail money.
Me: No, I had to stay there for 60 days.
Me: What does Kristen's dream mean? (Turning to my Dad, who has been a clinical social worker for 28+ years.)
Dad: I don't know.
Kristen: Google it! I was watching the TV show "Arrested Development" and the guy wanted to stay in jail because his family was driving him nuts. They had watercolor paint classes.
Me: There were none of those in my jail.

Sunday consisted of a steamy 8-mile run, church, raspberry rhubarb pie, and biking to my friend's community garden. Here are some pics from there.

Wonderful Wednesday

Yesterday, I ran 7 miles (with a little speed work, obstacles, little water and looming black clouds nonetheless). I cleared my head and made some important decisions about races, my career, and extracurricular activities. Some days, those long(er) runs alone are needed. Now, if only my bike rides were going as smoothly. My last ended up with me in a mud puddle near a busy street and scratches on my legs and mud all down the left side of my body.

We also had a stir yesterday. Our neighbor's dog escaped. I offered to keep her in our backyard. However, our cat, Rajah, was less than enthused about this and our dog, Snickers, continued to bark and would not go outside for much of the time she was in our backyard. The cats stood at the door and watched her run up to it and back from it. Like good neighbors, we ended up releasing her when it was late, because the neighbors would not answer their door and we wanted to go to bed. However, the dog caused some anxious animals at our home to stay up for quite a while before hitting the hay.

Birthday

So my birthday was two days ago. Even though I turned 26, I am still excited about it. My birthday is used as a reference point for everything. We went camping a few weeks after my birthday last year...I think that it was a few days before my birthday...Grace is getting married the day before my birthday next year. Yeah, I love June 12. It is my favorite day. I would not pick another day to have my birthday ever.

So...this year, we had a cookout at our house for a few friends. One from Chicago spent the night. It was really good to see some friends and catch up with some other ones for a while. We made lots of food, which we are still eating on. In the midst of feeling as if I didn't have any friends (because I barely see them anymore), my birthday was a great reminder that I am loved. I also was able to run with my dad and sis (or go for a swim really with the humidity), which was followed by coffee with some peeps, and shopping for presents for others. I got some sweet presents, including a GPS (since my last one broke in the middle of me driving to a client's house), a metal water bottle, and a necklace set. Plus, I might have a few breakfasts coming this week.:) This may be my birthday week. Hey, I can handle that.

Giving myself a break

So...finally taking the advice of one of my friends, I have decided to give myself a break. I have decided to allow myself to relax a little bit more and to not convince myself I "have to" do certain things, especially things I enjoy. I ran a trail run yesterday with a friend and didn't push myself; enjoying the scenery and the process was more important (besides, I have the memory of my shoe coming completely off in the mud). I decided I needed to relax today instead of going to an open house out of town and decided that I wouldn't push myself getting ready for a Brad Paisley concert yesterday, even allowing myself to leave early if I wanted to do so. Although I don't want to become lazy, I realize I need to enjoy what I am doing more than just checking it off a "to-do" list. I am exhausted and need to probably go to bed early tonight.

Spring is coming!

I have convinced myself for some time now that spring will begin mid-March. March 13 is the day I have decided that it will begin. Yes, I have decided for Mother Nature when spring will begin. A canceled appointment allowed for me to come home to my little angels for a little bit. Snick and I took a very short walk in the amazing cool spring weather and I discovered that my seedlings had already been removed from the windowsill and the bag chewed by one of the cats. So...cat willing...I will have seedlings in a few weeks. Maybe I can end my black thumb curse after all. Otherwise, Zoe will be to blame.

Running, Eggs, Organization, and Disney=my weekends

So...a quick update on my life. Last weekend consisted of a trip to Chicago to see my friend Graciela for her 30th birthday party. She also showed me her major rock...she's engaged! Besides that, I was able to see my prego roomie from college on bed rest and run with my sis. I was smart enough to take my sister through the rough areas of town (I was a social work major in college...I know where they are) and on a snow and ice laden path next to the river...yeah, I have had brighter ideas. There is a guy who told us to run faster because we were running in the wrong neighborhoods. Oops...

My latest culinary obsession is eggs. I managed to make toast with a cool little heart cut out in the middle of it. The problem...one side became French toast, the other, eggs and toast. That cool trick has a little work to be done. I also managed to poach my first eggs yesterday. Yes, I am proud enough of myself to take a picture.:)

I also managed to clean out the shoes in my closet. I am surprised how many shoes I have and still am totally clueless as to what to do with my Doc Martens from high school that have barely been worn in eight years.

Last, but nowhere near least, T-4 days until Disney. I am stoked!

Winter Weather and Other stuff

Today it was -1 degree when I woke up at 5:20am. That's right...there were no degrees in the air. So what did I do? Decide that between the storms, running would be a good idea. I wore: a pair of compression shorts, two pairs of running tights (my now usual winter running garb), a pair of sweatpants, a moisture-wicking long-sleeved shirt, a Zyflex shirt, a fleece shirt, a lightweight jacket, a pair of running gloves (courtesy of Megan and Bradley), a hat, and of course, shoes and socks. Yes, it was a lot of layers. However, we decided that all of our layers equaled a lightweight running vest. Plus, it was icy, snowy, and freezing outside. We already felt hardcore. Then I was told upon returning to the Y that my eyelashed were frozen. Now THAT is cold. Chris and I deserve medals...we decided this. Even Ironman Buck couldn't handle this morning. Yeah, we are just that awesome.:)

Baking was put on hold due to having to work almost all day Sat. Oh, and I have been organizing. I found at minimum of a dozen pairs of socks without mates. Plus, I found malaria and Traveler's Diarrhea medicine that had expired two and a half years ago. I guess I held onto it anticipating leaving the country again. So sad...a dream put on hold. It is amazing the junk I have and have not even bothered to search through.

Today is Snickers' birthday. He is 14. It is odd after all the things I have had to remember in 14 years, I still know his birthday. Yes, my dog is old.

As we gear up for another snowstorm, bundle up or enjoy warm weather if you live there. Cuddl Duds are my new best friends.

Day 1

Today's first day of the cleaning regime=finding checks from an account closed two years ago, discovering an unopened disposable camera, and a snow globe that is supposed to have a picture in it (it doesn't)...plus tithe envelopes from when I was in college. Boy this cleaning stuff was badly needed....

Cooking, cleaning, and other home-based adventures

Recently, I have spent much time in the kitchen. Last weekend, I made Caribbean stew, scones (from a mix...I cheated), and dinner with my dad (coconut shrimp with an apricot sauce, steamed asparagus with Hollandace sauce, and a delicious grains mix from Trader Joe's). This weekend, I made a 10-bean soup for dinner tomorrow, a crock pot recipe for today, couscous and with sauteed kale and other veggies, plus carrot raisin bran muffins. The bold new experiment last week: kale. I have decided I like it sauteed with olive oil and pine nuts. This week: Edam cheese. I may make crepes and foccacia bread too. Now, if only I had friends who would be willing for me to subject them to my cooking, I could have a dinner party.

As for cleaning, I am not on the ball nearly as much. I had to convince myself to clean for 20 minutes today to receive the good-feeling endorphins from it. So, I have decided to make a declaration on here...for accountability. For the next month (through Feb. 28), I will clean/organize a minimum of one thing per day, no matter how exhausted I am. I will return with the results...

Snowflakes

This morning, there was just enough of a coating on my car from the snowflakes for me to notice each individual one. I was amazed at how each one was different. Then I noticed how the snow had piled up all around. The individual snowflakes were EVERYWHERE. It's amazing that God takes time to painstakingly make each one, yet there are billions of them. I started thinking about how many humans had ever walked the Earth and how God knows each one so intimately. There are billions upon billions of people who have ever lived on this Earth over thousands of years, yet God knows each one intimately and creates each one uniquely. I then began to think about people's legacies and most never leave a unique mark, yet a few, those snowflakes on my car, stand out. Their uniqueness may have required for them to stand up to others when it was tough or go against the grain. Yet, most people fade into the masses because it is easier than being unique. Ephesians 2:!0 says, "For we are God's workmanship (or work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Yeah, I am called to be unique by my Creator...I just need to figure out how to do that. Oh the things I learn from snowflakes...

2009...the longest post ever

Ok, I know it's 2010 and I should be posting about New Year's Resolutions, but I am a little behind in my posts always. If I was to title 2009, it would be "The Year of Change". Starting with my cousin's snowmobile accident on New Year's Day and ending with my New Year's Eve celebration at my sister and Brother-in-Law's (BIL, as I like to call him) new apt...there was enough change to make anyone exhausted. With much prayer and preparation, I completed two marathons this year in January and April. I attempted my first triathlon this summer, in addition to watching both my sisters graduate (1 high school, 1 college), and assisting with my middle sister's wedding. It wasn't the wedding that was so hard to fathom, it's the marriage. My sister now has a different last name, different family, and different home. She now calls our house "Mom and Dad's", has a Christmas tree with all the ornaments Mom has given her over the years, and allegiance to someone other than our family. Her name is no longer on our Christmas cards and her room is "the room that used to be Megan's room" (as my mom called it today). I think that this will be a work in progress to accept this. My youngest sister is now a freshman in college, where she is growing and learning exponentially. She is amazing in so many ways and is discovering how she can be independent, one day at a time. My parents continue to work insane hours, but I seemed to have joined their ranks. As much as I hate it, I sometimes work way over 40 hours. However, I have come to accept this as part of my job and am actually enjoying this. Our system has failed our children in so many ways, but I feel at least I have made a small dent in that. This is my calling for now and for that I am grateful. That, I guess, is the best I can hope for at this point in my life. My parents continue to creep up in age...my dad will be 55 in 2010 and my mom turned 50 this year. I don't feel like they are old, but it is weird that my dad is almost able to get a senior coffee at McDonald's. My grandpa had a stroke this summer, likely due to the stress of family events. He lost part of his vision in both eyes and has a major blockage near his brain that is taking a specialized team of experts to possibly remove it without killing him. My extended family talked with me a few weeks ago about my grandma's health. They are worried that she has lost too much weight and is displaying the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Her sister is placed in residential care for Alzheimer's. The biggest change this year possibly was my Uncle Jeff's death. He died of heart failure that likely was a result of years of heart disease. My cousins were a month and a half from being 16. He was 47. My aunt has grieved much, as can be expected. We have attempted to support her through this time, but there is no consolation for such a permanent loss of a spouse.

As much as I could lament over the difficulty of trials this year, I have so many things to be thankful for. Megan and Bradley were married on a whole lot of faith and little money. Neither had jobs lined up after the marriage. However, in the wake of my uncle's death, they opted to move to Ohio with my aunt. Bradley received a job after months of prayers almost as soon as my cousins had received their license. Bradley had no contacts at the company and no previous experience. Not to mention, there is still a recession occurring. They found a beautiful apartment within their price range in a convenient location almost as soon as Bradley had received his job. They are now settling into life in Ohio well and loving it. They have met people in the church who they enjoy and my sister is now subbing in various schools in the area and working at Panera Bread. She is not teaching as she had hoped, but it is a really good way for her to get into several school systems and see which ones she likes or does not like. She loves Panera and already says that she would like to work there in the summers when she is teaching. Megan read Kristen and I bedtime stories the other night when we were there and made all of her stuffed animals kiss me. Her kids will really love her when she has a classroom. Landon's knee healed extremely well from the surgery. In fact, it healed so well, the surgeon attributed the healing to God, stating "I am good, but I am not that good." He needed further surgery, but his knee had healed so well, what was once shreds of muscle became a functioning knee. Landon's dad was pushing him in a wheelchair at Easter, but was able to see him up and walking before his death in June. In fact, a few days before his death, he was at my little sister's Open House telling the story of Landon's miraculous healing of his knee. We were able to go to Tennessee and New Mexico this year for very little money. Someone donated the time share condo in TN to us because her points were about to expire. We were extremely grateful. My job has thrown many curve balls, but I feel as if I am getting the hang of it. I don't know if everyone else has as many bumps as I have out of grad school, but I feel comfortable in my job. I have a lot to learn, but I feel as if I am learning a little more everyday. I look forward to 2010 being a year of growing, learning, and trying new things, in addition to mastering some old things. Plus, I really need to get organized.