So much for that whole staying-away-from-blogging malarky. I'm actually better today, and thanks for your comments. The Dude bought me flowers yesterday, and also, because he is a high-flyer, had a talk with someone in the university who is going to nose around to see why I wasn't shortlisted for this most recent job. The silver lining, if there is such a thing, is that the head of the department to which I applied is a bitch of epic proportions if The Dude's source is correct. As in, numerous mass exoduses of staff within the past handful of years. Not good. From one bad manager to another, so maybe it's for the better. How very Zen of me. Don't get all excited thinking I'm cured of my malaise by the way, I mustn't get complacent and assume that everything is now butterflies and gooey chocolate cake magnificence. It's a better day, and that's at least a start.
I'm blogging again for a very important reason - a time sensitive one. Kate, a fellow Couch to 5K convert, came up with a marvellous idea that I completely elbowed my way in on. Simply put, awhile back we both said enough was enough and got our lumpy asses moving. We both chose Couch to 5K, and wouldn't you know it, we've stuck with it. Kate is an asthmatic ex-smoker, I'm an ex-ex-athlete and decade-long lazy sod, yet here we are, now running 5Ks numerous times a week. Not too long ago Kate told me about Nike+ipod, which is pretty much the best invention ever next to the banana guard.
Nike+ipod allows you to put a sensor in/on your shoe which communicates to a transmitter plugged into your iPod when you're exercising. It monitors all sorts of magical things - pace, distance, calories burned, time, proximity to unicorns, etc. You then plug in your ipod at home, et voila! Graphs, charts, it's an OCDers dream!
Running blah Couch to 5K blah yadda yadda yadda, I know. HOWEVER, keep paying attention ladies (and a gent or two) because Kate and I are uniting to give away one of these here doohickeys. Neither one of us is independently wealthy or of a particularly philanthropic nature, so we're not buying you an iPod, but one lucky endeavoring soul will have one of these handy contraptions purchased for them. I see Kate has not excluded non-walkers/runners, and said that the gift bestowed upon the winner will be in the form of an Amazon gift card at the estimated value of the nike+ kit and holder. All you need to do is leave a comment here telling me what makes you happy (a relevant theme given the darkest night of the soul stuff going on around here lately). Alternatively, you can leave the same information at Kate's.
This is completely Kate's idea, so all credit must go to her. I thought I'd help her out a bit since I'm feeling the same way about running, at least on the days that I'm not a miseryguts. Yesterday's low point would no doubt have been even lower if I was still the same portly gal I was just 3 months ago. At least running has given me something to be positive about, and I have not been the least bit positive about my body in years. I know how good that feels, and I would love to help someone else find that in themselves again.
Oh yes, and I almost forgot, Kate and I are on a team of 2 on Nike+ which is by invitation only. If you have (or will have!) a nike+ kit, email Kate or leave a comment on her blog for an invite and she'll hook you up. It's just a casual way of inspiring and motivating ourselves, nothing sinister or overpowering. We won't pour a bucket of goat's blood over you if you don't run far enough, unless you want us to of course.
So yes, happiness. Some of you are cheery little buggers, but even the more melancholy amongst you must have some periods of light. What are they? You only have until Friday to tell me, so click through and say something. Anything. Bring back the butterflies and gooey chocolate cake.
14 comments:
Proximity to unicorns? Where the fuck do I sign up for this contest?
Statia. Statia makes me happy. Okay sorry, I had to do it. *Ducks a smack from Statia.*
Okay, this will probably sound really cheesy. But what really makes me happy is the sunshine through my kitchen windows at 4PM. I can stand at my sink doing dishes with it shining full in my face, bathing the whole room in light and it makes me feel...less burdened. As if somehow the ordinary and mundane are magically transformed into prayer and meditation. I feel like my kitchen is a sanctuary. It's safe and bright and warm and I can just take a moment to breathe and be at peace. I take my time at the sink at 4PM and I count my small blessings. Everything makes sense for those brief moments.
Told you. Cheesy.
Statia. Statia makes me happy. Okay sorry, I had to do it. *Ducks a smack from Statia.*
Okay, this will probably sound really cheesy. But what really makes me happy is the sunshine through my kitchen windows at 4PM. I can stand at my sink doing dishes with it shining full in my face, bathing the whole room in light and it makes me feel...less burdened. As if somehow the ordinary and mundane are magically transformed into prayer and meditation. I feel like my kitchen is a sanctuary. It's safe and bright and warm and I can just take a moment to breathe and be at peace. I take my time at the sink at 4PM and I count my small blessings. Everything makes sense for those brief moments.
Told you. Cheesy.
Tulips and daffodils. Although that might be Wisconsin getting to me...
not that I am asskissing or anything- but your music mondays make me pretty happy. Cold weather makes me happy. Thinking of leftover Halloween candy is also a good thing. Also- and this is a kind of new happy- the little pop rock sensation in my gut is totally thrilling.
And chex mix.
& seriously- that is a very nice zen outlook about the job that wasn't.
The way tree branches look against the sky.
The way original green Palmolive dishwashing liquid smells. I LOVE that! Weird, right?
The way my cat curls up against me in bed.
And some other stuff.
Glad you're feeling better today, by the way.
The house being clean. Really clean with a candle burning and cold air outside. And no noise because the children are sleeping and the husband is running or doing his man things. I'm sitting in silence doing absolutely NOTHING at all and savoring it completely.
*coughing* And cinnamon rolls.
Happiness: When I played music to my son, down on our cheap little portable CD player. It was a piano track, soft and tinkly and deliciously sentimental, from a movie soundtrack.
He was very still as we sat cross-legged on the floor together. He put his arms around my neck and nestled his chin into my ear. I listened to him breathe.
We were quiet as we listened. Three minutes passed.
When the track ended, I lifted him off me. He was limp. And then he looked up at me.
There were silent tears streaming down his face.
This is just so fucking cool, I would sign up, like now! Put all my personals out there on teh internets! But do I need to actually wear Nike shoes? Cuz my feetz is sad. Can't do it. If I can find 2 seconds to understand this technology and see if it works with my otherbrandname gear, I'll cook up some happy.
Because THAT? Is tough. Honestly, I'm going to have to go with running again, outside, sans pain. Oh, and especially bloggers who think outside of themselves, m'dear. Makes me feel all bubbly and nice about teh internets and friends in the computer.
I seem to have really put my foot in it in my last comment and have given totally inappropriate advice. For this I apologize and I promise that in the future I will react with more sensitivity and care. Obviously, I did not know enough about the situation to assess it properly. Sorry.
What makes me (and probably you) happy: I finally posted on my blog again. Boo-ya!
Things that make me happy (and I needed a reminder of these today).
travel (any destination, but especially at random with no destination in mind); a good garlicky marinara sauce; the smell of wisteria at dusk; a hot bath overflowing with bubbles (thank you, Lush!); a glass of heady cabernet or a pint of Guinness, Maredsous 10 or Old Speckled Hen; fuzzy soft bellied shelter rescue cats; the yeasty warm scent of fresh bread baking in the oven; men with accents; Dublin Dr. Pepper; bossa nova and rainy nights; curling up on a cold night old Hitchcock films; christmas lights (old school multicolor or plain white - but never mixed); cuban foot silk stockings and black lace garters (rawr!); brie (oh fuck, who am I kidding. Cheese. PERIOD. any kind (except cottage or parm oddly); begniets and chicory coffee with jazz in New Orleans; vintage hats; cracking open a new book on the train; flannel sheets; the earthy smell of feed stores; towels warm from the dryer; champagne; morning glories; fresh pineapple and peaches that leave sticky rivulets of juice all over you; the way Julian clings to me in the mornings when I'm trying to leave to go to work.
Um, I'll shut up now, lest you think that I puke rainbows and hearts of happiness daily.
I'm pretty sure I can't use the Nike/iPod combo thingy in the pool. Call it a hunch, if you will.
But it does sound like a cool gizmo.
As for what's making me happy right now, not too fucking much.
Except the swimming. I swear, it's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. And anything that keeps me sane is, by default, going to make me at least a little happy.
What makes me happy these days? b lying besides me at night and waking up next to him in the morning. If I were going through this whole empty nest thing alone (or heaven forbid with my ex) I wouldn't be making it. The other thing that makes me happy is the rare occasion when Angel IMs me just to say hi instead of asking for help.
Love the nike+ kit but it doesn't work with my ipod touch.
Glad you're feeling better.
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