I've been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Papillary something or other. If you're going to get cancer, it's the kind to have - treatment is highly successful, etc.
I don't feel much like posting anything. Sorry
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
My Review
Nice
By jay pee from Boise, ID on 4/30/2010
Gift: NoPros: Comfortable, Good coverage, Cute
What a comfortable piece of clothing to run in. No binding, chafing, pinching, squeezing or cutting. Several times I have run in extreme wind, yet the skirt stayed down and covered "the bits" the whole time.
Due to the waist size it sits low, which is comfortable but makes it a bit too long and loose on the leg. I fold the waist down and pull the whole shootin' match up, which tightens and shortens the skirt, and I have no problems. I do wish it didn't run big though. I am rectangular in shape with just a tiny bit of curve. Maybe someone with curvier hips would do better with it. I still love it though.
Due to the waist size it sits low, which is comfortable but makes it a bit too long and loose on the leg. I fold the waist down and pull the whole shootin' match up, which tightens and shortens the skirt, and I have no problems. I do wish it didn't run big though. I am rectangular in shape with just a tiny bit of curve. Maybe someone with curvier hips would do better with it. I still love it though.
(legalese)
EDIT: I may have led the public astray - is this skirt or my other the "too big" skirt? Yikes...
Bibles & Buttons
Another successful non-snoozer morning!
It was more difficult to get up today. I was late getting to bed last night, as p.j. and I had classes in town until late. I tried a few visualizations of the morning get up routine, but it was so hard to stay focused! This morning, rather than jumping out of bed, I flailed in bed until I could get upright on the floor. Then I went to the bathroom and turned on the light before turning off the alarm. I did this because I was struggling my way out of sleep and wanted to be sure to have the light on before turning the alarm off. That's great and all, but it proves that I am still functioning by reason of my conscious (please use the term "reason" loosely here), rather than following conditioning of my subconscience. That means my sleepy consciousness could turn and betray me in a moment, though so far it hasn't. I think I need to amp up the visualizations to get the routine pounded into my subconscience, where it's supposed to be.
I ran into another related problem. I am not conditioned to jump, unquestioningly, into my running clothes. I looked at the clothes, and although it was decided I should stay up, I was not convinced I should get into my running clothes. I looked at the clothes some more; I didn't see clothes, I saw cold morning air and effort. So I didn't; I made some tea, grabbed my Bible and notebook, and spent time with my Savior. I prayed, read from My Utmost For His Highest (amazing devotional), and read from Acts chapter 3 and studied verse by verse. Acts is so appropriate for my life right now (well, when would it not be? but I mean particularly so right now), as I am stepping out in ministry. It was awesome time.
This brings me back to my original trouble with scheduling running as a priority over scheduling time with God, but hopefully poses a solution as well. I want to put nothing over God in my life. As I have practiced intentional living (as evidenced in this blog) and tried to be sensitive to God's direction, I have come to a point where running seems to be established in my life (to an extent) and there is a good space to use for exclusive devotion to God; this devotion has always been immediately essential, but has also been all but impossible to live out. I plan to use my morning time every other day for devotions and the other days for running. It isn't perfect, but it's a start. I hope it keeps me fresh and willing regarding both. As time goes by and I season in my devotions, I will likely look to increase my time to daily, but right now going from zero to every other day looks like a great improvement.
Tomorrow I have an early morning run, then a morning of yard sale-ing, craft shop & antique store browsing before lunch, all with the gals. All these things have been fully against my grain, and admittedly antiquing still sound awful, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing the pros in action at the yard sales. I'm curious. I have things I want to see at the craft stores - uck, yeah I said it - and I need yarn for my second knitting project. Or I'll stop knitting and do something else. These gals have a way of sucking a person in and turning them to the dark side (of crafting). It's simply because they are wonderful friends, and any activity involving them is good.
p.j. bought a Cannondale MTB, so I now have my Cannondale MTB back. I am excited to do a little cross training. I hope it doesn't kill me.
It was more difficult to get up today. I was late getting to bed last night, as p.j. and I had classes in town until late. I tried a few visualizations of the morning get up routine, but it was so hard to stay focused! This morning, rather than jumping out of bed, I flailed in bed until I could get upright on the floor. Then I went to the bathroom and turned on the light before turning off the alarm. I did this because I was struggling my way out of sleep and wanted to be sure to have the light on before turning the alarm off. That's great and all, but it proves that I am still functioning by reason of my conscious (please use the term "reason" loosely here), rather than following conditioning of my subconscience. That means my sleepy consciousness could turn and betray me in a moment, though so far it hasn't. I think I need to amp up the visualizations to get the routine pounded into my subconscience, where it's supposed to be.
I ran into another related problem. I am not conditioned to jump, unquestioningly, into my running clothes. I looked at the clothes, and although it was decided I should stay up, I was not convinced I should get into my running clothes. I looked at the clothes some more; I didn't see clothes, I saw cold morning air and effort. So I didn't; I made some tea, grabbed my Bible and notebook, and spent time with my Savior. I prayed, read from My Utmost For His Highest (amazing devotional), and read from Acts chapter 3 and studied verse by verse. Acts is so appropriate for my life right now (well, when would it not be? but I mean particularly so right now), as I am stepping out in ministry. It was awesome time.
This brings me back to my original trouble with scheduling running as a priority over scheduling time with God, but hopefully poses a solution as well. I want to put nothing over God in my life. As I have practiced intentional living (as evidenced in this blog) and tried to be sensitive to God's direction, I have come to a point where running seems to be established in my life (to an extent) and there is a good space to use for exclusive devotion to God; this devotion has always been immediately essential, but has also been all but impossible to live out. I plan to use my morning time every other day for devotions and the other days for running. It isn't perfect, but it's a start. I hope it keeps me fresh and willing regarding both. As time goes by and I season in my devotions, I will likely look to increase my time to daily, but right now going from zero to every other day looks like a great improvement.
Tomorrow I have an early morning run, then a morning of yard sale-ing, craft shop & antique store browsing before lunch, all with the gals. All these things have been fully against my grain, and admittedly antiquing still sound awful, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing the pros in action at the yard sales. I'm curious. I have things I want to see at the craft stores - uck, yeah I said it - and I need yarn for my second knitting project. Or I'll stop knitting and do something else. These gals have a way of sucking a person in and turning them to the dark side (of crafting). It's simply because they are wonderful friends, and any activity involving them is good.
p.j. bought a Cannondale MTB, so I now have my Cannondale MTB back. I am excited to do a little cross training. I hope it doesn't kill me.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
5:30 am Is My Friend
So far, so good!
Last night I ran through visualizations of the morning process, this time including getting into running clothes. I didn't visualize finishing the dressing process or getting out the door, because I'm far too easily distracted by shiny thoughts to keep my focus that long.
p.j.'s alarm - of the very same radio station as mine is set to - went off half hour earlier than mine. I jumped up, then got a bit confused. I was trying to use my conscious thoughts to figure out whether I was properly following my subconscious plans. Interesting. I was too paranoid about missing my alarm to just go back to bed (p.j. told me it was his alarm), but I didn't want to get off my schedule. I had to pee so badly that I had been dreaming about trying to find a place to pee (thank goodness I didn't find one), so I went to the bathroom with the lights off so as not to awaken myself too much. Then I worried that I would mess up my waking routine by not turning the light on. Yet I wasn't getting up just then, so...meanwhile, p.j. got up and hit snooze. Yikes, I didn't think about that. How am I to train myself not to snooze when I have to endure my husband's multi-snoozing?
My poor little frightened bean considered my options, then decided to go back to bed until my alarm went off. By the time it did go off, I had to check the time to be sure it really was my alarm. I jumped up, turned the alarm off, went into the bathroom, got a little confused, turned the light on, got dressed, took my vities, brushed my nasty mouth (I had forgotten to visualize the last two steps, but it worked out) and went out to join p.j., chipper and alive.
p.j.'s schedule happened to facilitate a cross town drop off, so we headed out together in the Jeep. The sky was a deep blue with dark clouds; it was totally dark the last time I had run so early. I kissed him goodbye then took off, full of energy. The route just happened to be a 5k, and I ran a sub 10 minute mile average, which is new for me. Tell me I wasn't excited! 9'46" average mile. Slow stuff for folks, but I'm new here.
As for the rest of the day, I'm tired!
Last night I ran through visualizations of the morning process, this time including getting into running clothes. I didn't visualize finishing the dressing process or getting out the door, because I'm far too easily distracted by shiny thoughts to keep my focus that long.
p.j.'s alarm - of the very same radio station as mine is set to - went off half hour earlier than mine. I jumped up, then got a bit confused. I was trying to use my conscious thoughts to figure out whether I was properly following my subconscious plans. Interesting. I was too paranoid about missing my alarm to just go back to bed (p.j. told me it was his alarm), but I didn't want to get off my schedule. I had to pee so badly that I had been dreaming about trying to find a place to pee (thank goodness I didn't find one), so I went to the bathroom with the lights off so as not to awaken myself too much. Then I worried that I would mess up my waking routine by not turning the light on. Yet I wasn't getting up just then, so...meanwhile, p.j. got up and hit snooze. Yikes, I didn't think about that. How am I to train myself not to snooze when I have to endure my husband's multi-snoozing?
My poor little frightened bean considered my options, then decided to go back to bed until my alarm went off. By the time it did go off, I had to check the time to be sure it really was my alarm. I jumped up, turned the alarm off, went into the bathroom, got a little confused, turned the light on, got dressed, took my vities, brushed my nasty mouth (I had forgotten to visualize the last two steps, but it worked out) and went out to join p.j., chipper and alive.
p.j.'s schedule happened to facilitate a cross town drop off, so we headed out together in the Jeep. The sky was a deep blue with dark clouds; it was totally dark the last time I had run so early. I kissed him goodbye then took off, full of energy. The route just happened to be a 5k, and I ran a sub 10 minute mile average, which is new for me. Tell me I wasn't excited! 9'46" average mile. Slow stuff for folks, but I'm new here.
As for the rest of the day, I'm tired!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Reprogramming the Bean
How did I get so busy? It's a good busy though; my time is sacrificed at the expense of slothery (that's a word now).
It does cause a problem, though, in my "Taking Care of j.p." spiritual and physical routines. I have no regularly schedulable (this one is a word now too) time until 10pm, and that time slot isn't actually free either, as I have a daily 10pm appointment with bed. This brings me back, full circle, to the inescapable need to utilize the early morning hours and facing the dread bed addiction.
This 10pm bed appointment would ideally end at 5:30am - 7.5 hr appointment with 5 full sleep cycles. The ideal isn't realized because that bed appointment is awesome, so I extend it to take up the next time slot.
I've previously discussed my horribly convincing half-asleep logic, and that its persuasion always leads to more awesome bed time. The results are: Oversleep, multiple mid sleep cycle reawakenings, addiction to the snooze bar, wasted time, and a terrible morning rush to get ready for the day. Hey, that's more horrible than I thought!
Day before yesterday I started visualizing, hoping to create a new neural pathway regarding the alarm (and abandoning the old one) so my sleepy body will learn to automatically follow the new pathway. I don't know if this is really 'a thing' or not, but it makes sense to me. I visualized the alarm going off and me jumping out of bed to turn it off, going into the bathroom, turning on the light and doing the morning stretch (makes my head light and my blood feel speedy).
Yesterday morning I awoke and did just that. I stand amazed. I don't think there's been time to completely turn this thing around yet, as I did contemplate my options (bed) before remembering to mindlessly follow the new neural pathway to the well-lit bathroom. This morning I did the same, and the same resulted. The lack of change is likely due to my visualization yesterday being sketchy. One thing I've noticed, though, is that I didn't look at the time until after I finished the things I had visualized. I always look at the clock, but not now. IIIIIIIInteresting.
This is pretty exciting, but I'm lacking something: A plan of what to do with my time after awakening. The alarm was set for 6:30am (I know, I know, but any alarm setting is game for snooze!). Yesterday I made sure I was wide awake, then got back into the bed with my book club book and stayed committed to staying awake. This morning, however, I got into the shower right away so as not to toy with the lure of the pillow.
Tonight I plan to set the alarm for 5:30am and plug in my iPod. Before bed, I will visualize getting up, turning the alarm off, going to the bathroom, turning the light on, doing the morning stretch, then jumping into my running gear. I guess I should add the visualizations of loosening my joints and getting out the door too, or who knows what might happen after I'm in my running clothes!
Ooooh, I'm pretty excited!
It does cause a problem, though, in my "Taking Care of j.p." spiritual and physical routines. I have no regularly schedulable (this one is a word now too) time until 10pm, and that time slot isn't actually free either, as I have a daily 10pm appointment with bed. This brings me back, full circle, to the inescapable need to utilize the early morning hours and facing the dread bed addiction.
This 10pm bed appointment would ideally end at 5:30am - 7.5 hr appointment with 5 full sleep cycles. The ideal isn't realized because that bed appointment is awesome, so I extend it to take up the next time slot.
I've previously discussed my horribly convincing half-asleep logic, and that its persuasion always leads to more awesome bed time. The results are: Oversleep, multiple mid sleep cycle reawakenings, addiction to the snooze bar, wasted time, and a terrible morning rush to get ready for the day. Hey, that's more horrible than I thought!
Day before yesterday I started visualizing, hoping to create a new neural pathway regarding the alarm (and abandoning the old one) so my sleepy body will learn to automatically follow the new pathway. I don't know if this is really 'a thing' or not, but it makes sense to me. I visualized the alarm going off and me jumping out of bed to turn it off, going into the bathroom, turning on the light and doing the morning stretch (makes my head light and my blood feel speedy).
Yesterday morning I awoke and did just that. I stand amazed. I don't think there's been time to completely turn this thing around yet, as I did contemplate my options (bed) before remembering to mindlessly follow the new neural pathway to the well-lit bathroom. This morning I did the same, and the same resulted. The lack of change is likely due to my visualization yesterday being sketchy. One thing I've noticed, though, is that I didn't look at the time until after I finished the things I had visualized. I always look at the clock, but not now. IIIIIIIInteresting.
This is pretty exciting, but I'm lacking something: A plan of what to do with my time after awakening. The alarm was set for 6:30am (I know, I know, but any alarm setting is game for snooze!). Yesterday I made sure I was wide awake, then got back into the bed with my book club book and stayed committed to staying awake. This morning, however, I got into the shower right away so as not to toy with the lure of the pillow.
Tonight I plan to set the alarm for 5:30am and plug in my iPod. Before bed, I will visualize getting up, turning the alarm off, going to the bathroom, turning the light on, doing the morning stretch, then jumping into my running gear. I guess I should add the visualizations of loosening my joints and getting out the door too, or who knows what might happen after I'm in my running clothes!
Ooooh, I'm pretty excited!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Mind Games
I was starting to contemplate the possibility of p.j. never showing up to get me. "What if he couldn't get the tires on the Jeep?" "What if he's been in an accident?" "What if I was on the wrong road?" "What if...no, he'll show up." "I wanted to get in my full half hour run anyway, so this is good...I told him I wanted at least a half hour..."
Finally, far off in the distance, I could see something that resembled the Jeep enough for me to peg my hopes on it. I had paced my run faster than normal, just because of the possibility p.j. would probably show up before I had my half hour in, so I wanted my run time to count. It was the Jeep, oh mercy in heaven! But I was actually only at 36 minutes and I felt pretty great, so what's the big trauma?
Enter mind games. The plan was: I run straight out into the countryside on a specified road and p.j. would leave the shop 'soon' and come home via that specified road, picking me up and giving me a ride home. However, I had no idea how long before he would actually meet me for the pick up.
Before the half hour had passed, I worried that he would arrive before I had a good run in. I worried that I wasn't going fast enough to make it count. I was worried that I was going too fast to be able to keep going for an unknown amount of time. After the 30 minutes had passed, I was worried that he wouldn't arrive soon enough. I was worried that I was running too fast for too long. I was worried that slowing down would ruin my overall pace and train me to slow down as a run progresses. I was worried that he wouldn't show up. I was worried that I would have to end my run and walk, in a running skirt, down a lonely country road - vulnerable.
It took me about 33 of those 36 minutes to figure out that I was in my first set of real running mind games. As much as I was exercising my body, I was exercising my mind, expanding my will. Alright. Good. Okay. I just wished I would have thought of that earlier.
Yesterday's goal planning and realization was successful:
I also shot p.j., dirty from the shop, starting up the mower. By now you probably don't need proof, but I want to show anyway:
Finally, far off in the distance, I could see something that resembled the Jeep enough for me to peg my hopes on it. I had paced my run faster than normal, just because of the possibility p.j. would probably show up before I had my half hour in, so I wanted my run time to count. It was the Jeep, oh mercy in heaven! But I was actually only at 36 minutes and I felt pretty great, so what's the big trauma?
Enter mind games. The plan was: I run straight out into the countryside on a specified road and p.j. would leave the shop 'soon' and come home via that specified road, picking me up and giving me a ride home. However, I had no idea how long before he would actually meet me for the pick up.
Before the half hour had passed, I worried that he would arrive before I had a good run in. I worried that I wasn't going fast enough to make it count. I was worried that I was going too fast to be able to keep going for an unknown amount of time. After the 30 minutes had passed, I was worried that he wouldn't arrive soon enough. I was worried that I was running too fast for too long. I was worried that slowing down would ruin my overall pace and train me to slow down as a run progresses. I was worried that he wouldn't show up. I was worried that I would have to end my run and walk, in a running skirt, down a lonely country road - vulnerable.
It took me about 33 of those 36 minutes to figure out that I was in my first set of real running mind games. As much as I was exercising my body, I was exercising my mind, expanding my will. Alright. Good. Okay. I just wished I would have thought of that earlier.
Yesterday's goal planning and realization was successful:
- Goal: Use the camera. For taking pictures.
Yes, that is our dandelion infestation.
I also shot p.j., dirty from the shop, starting up the mower. By now you probably don't need proof, but I want to show anyway:
Start 'er up, p.j.!
So happy to be mowing. Er...
- Goal: Run solo at every chance. Even if it's just a mile or two.
- Goal: Set up time to daily seek the face of God.
- Goal: Get back on track with 3 quarts a day.
I also watched Austin finish off Modern Warfare II last night, though it was very late. He actually invited us up to the ghetto room for it. Coo. :)
One more, since I'm on a roll (and a bit narcissistic). Taken in my office abouuuut...20 minutes ago:
Don't mind the cord/cord cover, just look at how the clothes match the tattoo. Sweet shoes, too.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Get 'Er Back On Track!
So my head feels great, as do my eyes, ears and stomach. Ahhh, how one appreciates one's full faculties after...them not being full. The 3 day migraine is over, and I am fully functioning, once again. Blood sugar roller coaster, dehydration and forgotten vitamins, topped off with an Alaskan Amber to get it rolling. Good times.
I have progressed to carrying my camera around in my bag, but I can't seem to take it out and use it. Baby steps, yeah.
I now have a date tonight with my running shoes at 5:00 pm. I don't care how far I run, just so long as I run.
I also have a date tonight with God at 7:00 pm for convo and Bible study. I am sooo hungry for this.
I am just finishing up quart #1 and am headed out for quart #2 (and a pee break).
I have a third date, which isn't attached to a goal (but perhaps should be) later tonight with a.h. & p.j., just because I had forgotten how delightful it is to spend time with a.h. He is way too into his 360, and he is amazingly fun to watch as he tromps around the world killing people: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare II, and Idontremembertheothernames. The graphics are excellent, the action nonstop (and very bloody), there's no gratuitous sex or idiotic Hollywood plots, the hero will go wherever you request, and it can end whenever you want - it's the perfect movie!
AND, I am getting really close to having a hair appointment! I don't think my self hacks are quite cutting it. Oh! Cutting it, ha!
I have progressed to carrying my camera around in my bag, but I can't seem to take it out and use it. Baby steps, yeah.
- Goal: Use the camera. For taking pictures.
- Goal: Run solo at every chance. Even if it's just a mile or two.
- Goal: Set up time to daily seek the face of God.
- Goal: Get back on track with 3 quarts a day.
I now have a date tonight with my running shoes at 5:00 pm. I don't care how far I run, just so long as I run.
I also have a date tonight with God at 7:00 pm for convo and Bible study. I am sooo hungry for this.
I am just finishing up quart #1 and am headed out for quart #2 (and a pee break).
I have a third date, which isn't attached to a goal (but perhaps should be) later tonight with a.h. & p.j., just because I had forgotten how delightful it is to spend time with a.h. He is way too into his 360, and he is amazingly fun to watch as he tromps around the world killing people: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare II, and Idontremembertheothernames. The graphics are excellent, the action nonstop (and very bloody), there's no gratuitous sex or idiotic Hollywood plots, the hero will go wherever you request, and it can end whenever you want - it's the perfect movie!
AND, I am getting really close to having a hair appointment! I don't think my self hacks are quite cutting it. Oh! Cutting it, ha!
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