No time to slide

I'm trying to figure out this last day of the month. Is it a by-day? Do I get a pass to slide? Since it's the last day of the month that turned toward the dark side of not getting things done, does it mean I don't have to do anything today? Or is today a primer for revved things up for the coming month?

I get to choose.

But honestly, I don't have the time or patience right now to brood over which way I should be looking at this situation. Looking and analyzing doesn't get anything actually done. And really, I have some things to do.

I guess that figures it out. Get started. You already know what to do. Start doing it.
TT

Plans anyone?

This month started out to be my time for re-figuring and recalculating and possibly getting myself on track again. I was going to rethink my goals, find ways to achieve them, and pound them out with renewed motivation.

Wow. That totally didn't happen. Here it is, almost the end of a perfectly good month, that could have been to a perfectly good start to a perfectly well-laid plan and I totally spaced out. I didn't get anywhere close to getting anything done that was proposed. I don't think I did, but since I don't even remember what all those plans were I'd have to go back and check. You know. I'd have to check the plans that I'm positive I didn't get anywhere near doing so I can be sure I didn't get any done. Whatever they were - those plans.

Sometimes, that's just the way it goes. You think things are so very important that you plan them all out in precise detail only to realize making plans doesn't make them more important. If they were that important I might have gotten more done this month. Maybe. Except it turned out a lot was going on this month that took me away from all the plans. It was important.

Or maybe this is a well planned excuse being used in the aftermath of not following the plan.
TT

Always something

There will always be more rain, more laundry, and more food to buy and cook. Let's keep the wheels turning before they all fall off and then have to deal with an entirely different problem. You don't know how good you have it. Don't ignore all the possible positives around you just because it's easier to pay attention to the negative. Those pesky negatives are stage hogs. They mug for attention but aren't worth the time. Pull away and look at all that good right there in front of you.

It might take a while to get behind all the waving and annoying things standing in front of you but well worth the time to see past it. There will always be something. Make it good.
TT

A new jig

I have myself back home. My real home, not the one I moved away from many years ago and visited in the last flash of a day or two. It felt as if I was two days on the road and that pretty much is accurate.

But the time is now to look ahead with a renewed freshness that comes with unexpected change. Open the eyes, see the same in a different light and perspective, and give it all a new chance. Combine what you know about the old and put it to good use in the now. It's sure to make a better outcome in the future.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
TT

The stranger

I'm sitting on the patio of the hotel room overlooking the pool. The air is still, the birds are chirping in an endless loop, and I don't have any idea what day it is. I'm not home even though I'm in my hometown. I'm a stranger here, not recognizing this or that but only holding on to vague familiarities. I know how to get from here to there. I recognize this and that but I don't know how I know it anymore. It's like waking from some dream where you're mind has made things that are unknown somehow familiar. It's like I'm supposed to know and I can recollect but I really don't know - except I kind of do know.

So I'll sit here a few more minutes. I collect my thoughts and listen to the birds. There isn't a single ripple in the pool.
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Time stash

As always with a trip looming, I wake early without the restraints of routine and need to organize to be prepared. I need to do this and then that, I need to pack and what is that. It's the mind scurrying lightly over details that may or may not have any significance. It's the way it occupies the time between now and then, between here and leaving. It's the measure between you're not there yet so activity becomes the barest of minimums, reserved for later when it's needed.

But it shouldn't be put on hold. Time is now and in this moment. What can be gleaned from the happenings of right now and how does it play. There is no time stash reserved for later. It's what you do now. We will get to then soon enough. Let's work with right now and pull out our gratitude for it.
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Flowing wet

The heavens opened up and cried long and hard. It's still in the midst of sorry, and flowing wet continues as the day tries to dawn darkly.

We are needing to make a trip to our hometown for the worst possible reason. Jay's sister past away yesterday afternoon after a long bout with emphysema. She was too young but too frail. I am headed to work this morning until we hear the information for the arrangements and then will be driving the long drive, to hug the right people.
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Sheesh Syndrome

Did you ever get into the syndrome where you know the body is willing but the mind is weak? When you get older, you can even trade the two off depending on what rational you feel like using. Oh, it's the body that's weak, no today I just don't feel like it, I'm thinking it's my (insert ailing ache of the day) can all be interchangeable reasons not to do something that is on the list of to-do's. You're older. You're not supposed to do all those things like before. You hear it all around you, all the time.

Then you start using some of that reasoning to be lazy. It has nothing to do with age, or aches. It isn't anything but sheer baby-whining, spoiled-brat, waa-waa temper tantrum, I'm not gonna, so no.

Sheesh. It always seems more logical the day after you miss a scheduled run. Why did I decide NOT to run yesterday? It was on the schedule. I as up for it. Then, what? I talked myself out of it for what? Why? Maybe the question should be, why not?

I'll say right now, this morning, that I'll make it up this afternoon. I'm scheduled 'off' today so it's a perfect slot. It's a bummer. I'm already sliding down that slope of body willing/mind weak mentality. What's up with the mind, lately? Get your head on straight, stupid.
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Expedition started

I started my new running plan. I got the prescribed three miles done yesterday (Tuesday) for the first run of the plan. It actually started on Monday but it was an 'off' or 'rest' day. It seems strange to start a plan with a day off but ALL Mondays are off on this particular plan. It isn't nearly as aggressive as the plan I tried previously. It's one of the reasons I picked it. It's still a good plan and I can always UP the runs/distances/times if I want to instead of falling behind and feeling like I can't keep up like on the previous.

I can now say I've rethought and redecided  and even started my new resolution or progression or whatever the proper title for this new expedition should be named. I am off and, well, running.
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In-between rush

I am doing the in-between rush. I need to hurry. It's the in-between time right now so I have to speed things up to get anything done. I am at home but only have a few minutes until I need to leave for work and I have to rush.

Something is upside down. I don't have time in the mornings anymore and yet I don't seem to be catching up with the things I missed in the mornings by doing them in the afternoons when I should have time. I need to put this right side up.
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New Plan

I picked a new running training plan. It was part of the things I wanted to do at about this time with my first quarter personal remix. I set out the beginning of the year with certain goals. If you want to call them resolutions than go ahead. I was never into titles and if they were resolutions there was no way I was thinking they would go the entire year. I knew I would need to rethink, rework, and remix the plan every so often. So I am in the midst of remixing my plans.

I get a fresh start with this new 16 week training plan. It gives some renewed energy to the process. I get to start off a little slower since I was starting to fall back anyway. It's clear, concise, and easy to follow. I don't need all the extra's thrown in and even if they were thrown in I probably wouldn't get around to them and fall off the plan. Not a good plan. I'll stick to easy to follow for now. 

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Overslept

I completely overslept. By the time I opened my peepers this morning it was the time I should have been driving half way downtown. I think sub-consciously I was slightly relieved when I realized I was too late. I got an email last evening saying they were going to close roads by 6:00am. I wasn't sure I wanted to brave the streets and arrive 2 hours before race time to run a 5K. The money will still go to the cause but I think I did myself a favor by adding an hour to my sleep even if it meant missing a race. I will run today - a 5K plus. How's that?

I did go ahead and register for the 5-miler next Saturday that will have a gun time of 5:00 P.M. It won't involve the massive traffic and crowd nightmares of the race this morning (thank goodness). It's in the afternoon and I'm looking forward to it. Big difference.
TT

Rushed (but fun) weekend

It's Tuesday morning before work and I'm feeling a little rested after this past blowout weekend. It started with my 10K run on Saturday morning. It took me a little longer to get away from the event since I won more hardware there, surprisingly enough, and then ran into traffic on the way home. It was almost half the day before I was able to get myself something to eat and then push myself to get organized. I needed to get to the store. We were celebrating Jay's 65th birthday on Sunday since his actual birthday is 4/4/51.

He had placed his request for the menu of the day and we had picked out a nice piece of beef earlier in the week. But I needed to get some things and I was running out of time. He requested:

Appetizers

Crustini's with Basil Pesto

Cheese with homemade bread rolls

Classic Roast Beef

Gravy

Mashed Potatoes

Broccoli with cheese sauce

Green Beans

Pound Cake with fresh berries and whipped cream

It all came out perfectly. It just seemed to blow by so quickly and I wore myself out just a bit. 

Now all is back to the normal rush of the week. I'm watching the clock at the moment knowing I have to get myself moving toward the door. 

I have another 5K this weekend where my company paid my registration. Since they donate to Race for the Cure there were spots available. But it isn't a timed race. I am looking at another interesting run the weekend after. It's a 5 miler but it starts at 5 P.M. instead of in the morning. It's a theme based legendary, weeping woman. We will see. I have others with my eye on but I need to sort myself out when I have a bit more time.

TT

New PR

I ran a 10K this morning. The Boys Town Race for Prevention of Child Abuse was sponsored by my company and I won free registration by raffle. How can you turn down something as easy as that? I couldn't. And even though the weather took a downward turn in temperatures, I got up and ran myself a nice little race.

I met up with another co-worker and had the pleasure of checking our rankings together when we finished. She did a tidy 5th place in her age division and was happy with her pace. I agreed. She did well. The company took home a big trophy for 2nd in Spirit with 100 registered runners. It was good all around. I don't think they all showed up but it's all for a good cause.

My time had me thinking about my own pace. My very first 10K was at my personal paradise in 2009. I got third place that first time and had a time of 1:06:46. Most recently on 3/12/16, I ran that 10K again and came in first with a time of 1:04:31. This morning, just a few weeks later, I ran a 10K in 1:03:58 and got myself a first place again.

Seven years have passed since my first 10K race. In that time I've bettered my time. Here is how they look all together:
3/07/2009 - 1:06:46
3/12/2016 - 1:04:31
4/02/2016 - 1:03:58

I can't explain it.
TT