I used to

I used to blog. I used to find time in a thoroughly busy schedule to write. It might have been a few paragraphs a day to over 3000 words over the same span of time but I actually wrote. I had proof of my writing by the many posts I published and the documents in my files.

That isn't and hasn't been the case for a while and my guess of  how long 'a while' might be is at least two years. It seems I should have more time to write since I retired as of the end of March 2017. I no longer hold a full time job. I have no alarm clock in the morning to get in a workout before sitting in  front of my computer desk for eight hours, five days a week. I have time to cook, do laundry, or write. All of my day is time off.

But I've managed to push all my writing aside. This used to be something I couldn't stop doing no matter how poor the content. It was a routine that wasn't let to go for more than a few days and never a matter of a week or months. Years without an idea pounded out was unthinkable. But here I am with nothing.

No fault. Life was harder to transition that I ever would have thought. I didn't do a good job of moving from extremely busy to having time to fill. I didn't fill it well. Or not well enough. Not well enough from a writing standpoint.

So in between all my other recent activities, I realized there was a moment that all I wanted to do was type on a page. I wanted to put some words down that were going through my head and see where it might end up. It started with a blog post because that was where I originally started with a few paragraphs a day. Then I went one step further and stopped thinking and started to write it down. Now I'm writing again. I'm not making any promises about volume or quantity but it's here.

It has to start with putting the words down on a page and not thinking about how long it's been since you did it.
TT

Step One

It's been a year. I've neglected writing that long and it's verified by dates here. I haven't bothered to re-read that last post from a year ago. I don't think it matters as I've left it as far behind me as all the days since then until now. Let's keep moving ahead where each new day is a clean slate.

I'll be a year older tomorrow. Sixty-three is as good a number as any and it really doesn't happen from one day to the next so I've had a year to warm up to it. It's been a good year and I can see many new trails to follow in the year coming next.

I signed up for a 5K on January 1, 2019. I have to start somewhere again. I didn't run any official races last year at all and I think it's time to get back on track. No. I 'think' too much. It is time and that's the reason I signed up even with my inner voice trying to persuade me it will be cold and I hate that and all the other reasons, like, I haven't had a decent run in weeks. I can do a 5K. I've run a January race in colder temperatures and won 1st place my age category. I think it was because I was so cold I just sped up to finish and get it over with. So this will be a start. Step into square one.

I've been commissioned to make another quilt. This will be the third tee-shirt quilt I have made for someone. This time it's mostly baby clothes. I have some ideas to make it special and I will be grabbing my scissors soon. Maybe after I finish this post, or I make breakfast. My time is pretty well spent whichever way I like now-a-days and I like that. Lots.

I took two levels of acrylic painting courses at the local adult community education class. I found I really enjoy doing that and have completed three paintings. I posted a picture of the last one I finished recently below that some might recognize. I took the original photo in Rockport, Tx in 2011 after a run. It really has a special meaning to me and holds many great memories. It's really nice to have it up on my wall in this very room I'm in right now.

So many things going on. So many things to pick and choose to do. Step into square one and move forward from there.
TT

Warm Gratitude

I believe today will be the warmest out of a week of a very cold bit of weather. I try not to make too big a deal out of the fact I wish I could bypass winter every year since I don't enjoy it. When I see pictures of softly falling snow and white capped branches I shudder in horror. I know it isn't the reaction most would have to these supposedly wonderful landscapes but my logical mind knows I would be in total panic of the freezing temperatures. Zero tolerance for me.

But there is so much more I have to be grateful about than to worry over a few days of blistering cold weather. For one thing I don't have to venture far out of my home. There is plenty to do and celebrate without moving outside my front door. I take advantage of that as much as I can. This year might end damp and freezing but I look toward another and am thankful. 

TT

Landmark

A few posts back I actually hit a landmark for this blog. It seems I've been sputtering, mumbling, rambling on and on enough here to come up with over 2000 posts. Published posts, posts that are here and still available.

I'm not sure it's good, bad, or indifferent, but the sheer number alone is higher than I anticipated. I should celebrate in some way by hmmm, maybe posting again.

TT

Holiday Week

Time is blowing through fast. If it wasn't for the few pictures I took I might not have evidence of the just past Thanksgiving holiday or any of the other great things that happened just this past week.

There was tremendous planning that went into the great feast on Thursday but before that happened, I managed to make a trip out to hike at Lost Maples. It was a glorious way to spend the day even if it was steeper than I remember.

 

Then it was time to get into the kitchen and make our usual spread for Thanksgiving dinner. I got everything cooked and it turned out very well. Turkey was moist and that's a sign of success!

 After all the food was taken care of - given away, put away, munched on the next day, I got busy and finished my third quilt!

It's a Christmas throw that I wanted to try with triangles, which also look like trees, and there are twelve rows of trees in different holiday materials. I think it turned out quite nice.

So a busy week it has been. Lot's of things going on. And my 20 workouts for November got stuck at 17. I still have a few days left so I will need to get those last three days out of the way. If I can find the time.

TT

8 down

I have managed to score a run every day since November started. I have eight runs under my belt for a total of 40 miles. It's been a nice start to the month and I am trying to figure out if I will wait until the weather warms a bit this morning or just drive myself to the gym.

I would rather wait and get outside if at all possible. I guess it would be safe to wait and if the weather doesn't straighten out I will bear the trip to the gym. Let's get 20 workouts this month. So far so good.
TT

Day one, step one

Good Morning, November.

There's a promise of new things to come. A misty, cooler end of October cleared the air for some fresh ideas. Plans to make and break, change and re-negotiate, and come around to the newer, better, bigger things that make it real.

Step one: Start.
Step two: Do it again
Step three: Make adjustments
Step four: Repeat improved process

I'm going to give it a go. Today is Day one, step one, start.
TT