Whatever

Randomness

I haven't felt much like blogging lately.  No reason.  At the moment, short sentences or updates on Facebook and Daily Mile seem to suffice.

Last week, after our Saturday run with the track club, about 12 of us went out for breakfast.  Chatter about  different events to run and everyone's upcoming runs was the bulk of conversation as we ate.   Towards the end of our meal, one of our running friends, Kate, pulled out a deck of Osho-Zen tarot cards, and had each of us select a card, randomly.  Kate had mentioned that she preferred the Osho-Zen cards because they aren't dark, but more positive, more calm, more zen-like.  I  have mixed thoughts about things like tarot cards, because I'm not sure how much of it is made up by the person doing the reading, or how much of it has some truth, psychology, or foresight behind it. I was rather surprised how close to home some of the readings were -- and one person began to tear up -- but in a good way.   Kate only knows us as running friends, and not much about out personal lives. She also phrased what she had to say in terms of running, not just for me, but for everyone.  Here's the card I selected:

Flowering

According to Kate,  this is one of the  rainbow cards, a good and beautiful card in meaning.  She said that what I need to do now is to plant "seeds" and nurture what's going on around me, to slow down and wait for those "seeds" to grow, and that I need to be patient. I will achieve what I want to do, but not just now, no matter how much want whatever it is now.  I suppose that could apply to anyone, but maybe it's not as generic as it seems on the surface since this applies directly to me.  There is a lot that I want NOW.  She said that I have a "spirituality" about me, so I should understand what this all means in the larger picture.  I'm keeping and open mind. 

Summer has finally arrived in Southern California.  I knew it wouldn't be a gradual thing.  It went from cold to hot right away. I actually like the warmer temperatures and longer day light hours, however, I need to plan my runs early in the morning or late in the day OR run on the air conditioned gym's treadmill.

The grand-kiddo has a birthday on Sunday.   He'll be 7.  For the past month he's been insisting that he's 5 going on 6, but I think this has more to do with friends he's made at day camp.   Hubs and the grand-kiddo were at the grocery store, picking up a few items for dinner.  The cashier asked the kiddo how old he was and he replied, "I'm 5 going on 6."  Hubs immediately corrected him and said, "no, your 6 going on 7."  The kiddo insisted that he was 5.  The lady in line behind them chimed in with, "young man, only older women are allowed to lie about their age!"

Intensity has increased with each run and workout.  Bryan switched up what I'm doing at RU and what I do on my own.  At RU I'm getting back to doing some of the things I have the most fun with, such as throwing a weighted ball (about 8 pounds, maybe?)  at a wall and catching it while lunging.  I love workouts where I get to throw stuff.  Pylometrics are slowing coming back, too, and I love those types of exercises -- reminds me of being a kid.  The biggest change is intervals.  Last week the intensity was slow to moderate.  This week it's moderate to fast with shorter interval ratios*, but (still) not an all out effort.  I ran my intervals on the gym treadmill -- it's easier to keep track of time and intensity.  It was still tough, but good tough, and I was a soggy, sweaty mess when I was done. 

At RU on Wednesday there was another lady also working with Bryan at the same time. He often has two to four clients at the same time. Even though her workout was different than mine, she still had an equally intense work out. She began to complain a bit, how hard it was. Then she noticed what I was doing and also noticed that I wasn't complaining. One of the PT assistants told her that I never complain. The lady asked me, "well, why aren't you complaining?" It's times like that I wish I could come up with some snappy remark right off the cuff. I just said something about the injury and this is better than drugs, which is true.  I'm much happier being able to do a hard workout than being injured doing nothing.   I'm just slow on the uptake with witty remarks.

The garden is finally holding it's ground.  I actually had enough  kale, romaine lettuce, zucchini and yellow squash to actually use in a meal. Here's what I did with the yellow squash: 

Pizza on a store-bought crust with yellow squash from my garden, vidalia onion, garlic, buffalo mozzarella cheese, reduced fat  feta cheese, and red sauce.

My sister's eldest son has been busy over the past 6 years or so.  He started out in the Marines but was injured at boot camp with a hip fracture and received a medical discharge.  Since being in the Marines was no longer an option he went to college with the focus of becoming a lawyer.  He earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science, did well on the LSATS,  was looking ahead to law school, and was hired to work at a prominent law firm in Chicago.  After working a year at the law firm he realized he wasn't truly happy with his career choice.  He wanted to become a lawyer to make a difference, but it wasn't working out that way, at least in his eyes, since the law firm dealt with foreclosures. He quit his job at the law firm and enrolled in a culinary arts school in Chicago.  A few months ago he graduated from the culinary arts school as a pastry chef, had a job at a golf club as the main pastry chef, and was recently hand picked by Disney Orlando for a paid internship program, assigned to a restaurant at Epcot Center.  Disney is also covering his living accommodations -- he shares a place with three other guys, plus he has unlimited access to all Disney parks.  Needless to say, he's extremely happy, and now he feels that his possibilities are endless.  He did a complete about-face.  I know it surprised  my sister and her husband, since they footed the bill for college, but they also want their children to be happy.   I'm thrilled for my nephew because it isn't too often that your career makes you truly happy.


Wednesday's Song:
Fresh - Kool & The Gang

PEACE


*This is how the workout was written:
10 minutes warm up.
Intervals - numbers are the minutes, first number fast pace, second number moderate pace:
1/2, 2/2,3/2, 3/2, 4/2, 3/2, 2/2, 1/2
10 minute cool down