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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Greetings, My first week of running totaled 12 miles. I am very proud to have gotten through the week injury free, and with a renewed love of running. My low point so far has been the two miles I did on the treadmill yesterday. The snow and ice pushed me to the gym. But tomorrow, I am chancing it on the road. I will just take it easy and go for Larkspur, as I feel the terrain will be most forgiving. Hopefully, the weather will begin to cooperate. And because of the snow, I hope to try to ski this weekend. On other fronts, the children are exchanging a virus, and I feel it coming on, but I refuse to give in. I am going to do my best to take advantage of the time I have and rest.

On a personal note, thank you my friends, for being with me these past weeks, months, years. Each day I appreciate more and more the support I have had and continue to have. New friends and old have injected my life with so much joy.

Musically, I am hanging in there. I am still attempting to at least look at it every day. I am hoping for a keyboard. I am looking for venues. I must get some sleep.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Running against the wind

Well, I have been out of touch for almost two weeks. Much has happened. Most importantly, blog-wise, I started to run again. It all began last Saturday in Portland, Oregon--back where my running began when I was a teenager. My first run I left from the hotel room, turned on my Nano, and Bob Seger's "Running Against the Wind" was playing. It was too perfect. I ran past Lincoln High School, up the hill to Washington Park. I could not have felt better about it. The weekend itself was nice too. Revisited my old Mt. Tabor neighborhood, visited with friends, attended a web-series screening, ate good food, and even paid a visit to Darcelle's. The next day I ran again. It was just as lovely. It was difficult to come back to Bend. I wanted to stay in the "other place" that was not home. However, after taking a rest day and reorienting my self with reality, I have completed two more runs. First, I ran out on the Larkspur Trail which is probably my favorite (so far) that I can just go to from my front door. The next run was just a simple out and back over by Hollinshead, and it was a blue sky, setting sun and cool, crisp February air. So, it's not so bad being home after all. Running has been good for me, even though I am only on day 7. I am forgiving myself for being older and broken. I am taking everything one day at a time, constantly evaluating for soreness, twinges, pushing too hard. That is why my running is such an apt metaphor for my life. I want to enjoy it, push through the pain if I can, without permanent injury.

Other parts of life are springing anew. My music career(ha!) is taking some turns. I am hoping to purchase a keyboard and perhaps leave the guitar playing to the pros. Although I was rather proud of myself for adapting an Alison Krauss song earlier this week. I am going to try my hand at song writing again. I haven't been able to accomplish much reading or other pursuits. My classes have been busy, and other responsibilities take my time. Until next time, Holly

Monday, February 13, 2012

Busy, busy bee

Whew! I can't believe it was a weekend. It was like a week of a weekend. All four children in the house leads to exhaustion, so everyone forgive me for my energy level. But, I laughed and cooked, and generally had a wonderful time.

I am working on a Literature Review for my masters program. It is about parent volunteerism at the high school level. My parents never volunteered at any level that I can remember, but I have been one for my little ones the last few years. The number of volunteers decrease as children age through the school system. In addition there is a certain amount of exclusion due to race, language barriers, socio-economic level, etc. I am hoping to do a project in one of the high schools that welcomes parent volunteers from all walks of life, and educates school staff and administration how to best use volunteers.

Running? A little. I found my old running schedule from back in the old days, so I think I'm going to try it again with the minute vs. mile approach. I would like to do a 5k in June and a 10 in August/Sept. There are many other things on my mind, but I am still processing. Life is changing once again. Holly j

Thursday, February 9, 2012

St. Valentine's Day

So, I was watching some network television tonight (gasp), and it was all Valentine-y. I don't really know how to feel about V.D. I can't really remember a certain year when it was totally, amazingly romantic. And why should it be? It is an artifice. But, for those who get all romantic about it, maybe it's wonderful. Maybe I'm just unlucky in that regard. maybe I'm just tired and cranky, because I have been formatting my APA paper for two nights in a row and I feel like someone should give me a really great massage and rock me to sleep to soothe the pain.

Well, anyway, I have some cool stories to tell, but I think they will need to wait for another day. I have a full day tomorrow. All my children will be in the same house. I have a paper to finish. And I need to trust that every little thing is gonna be all right. Holly J

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Hump Day

Happy Wednesday! Well, I think I got over the hump. (so to speak) Good news: fell asleep before 11pm. Bad news: child woke me up at 3:45am. No, I did not run. Was not in the mood yesterday when I had the time. Homework: still much to do, but feeling almost inspired about my project. Music: still listening and figuring out what might work. World: everyone still doing what they do best---obstruction. My daughter wrote me a "ticket" for not smiling. Kids are so intuitive. At least this one is. She's a Sagittarius, so she's teaching mommy about the depths. Anyway, seems like I need to pay the fine and stay out of trouble with the law. So, if the clouds will go visit some other part of the planet, I will run tomorrow. Swimming tonight to get all the kinks out. Keep on keeping on. Holly

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What a difference a day makes.

Two days in a row without running, and I must admit, it's because I'm a wimp. I used to run at night when it was 18 degrees out, but now, a couple of days of inversion--not the beer--and I am insta-weenie. At any rate, I am still feeling okay. I think swimming is on the schedule tomorrow. Thursday, hope for a run in the Sun. On other fronts, my music is slowly improving. I have been taught a few new chords, and as usual, forgotten most of them right away. Now, can we get a venue or two? I am open to ideas. I have a literature review due in another week, and a full weekend ahead of me. I am going to study how parent involvement at the high school level impacts students. I think parents are more reluctant to volunteer at this grade level. I am going to have to pull out the research-paper-cram-magic-stuff. I don't have any great thoughts tonight, just want to keep writing for the exercise. That screenplay is going to write itself pretty darn soon. Cheers, my friends.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

What a week, what a life.

I am excited about new adventures. Yes, I finally started running again. It was nothing monumental. Tried to run most of the way up the Butte, nearly passed out, ran three laps and back down. Then I was monumentally sore for the next three days...Getting old here people. Tried out a new soccer team, which turned out to be a bust. I won't bore you with the details. I have stared to sing, as in, for performance. Me. This scares the crap out of me, but it is good. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but was either too afraid or it wasn't the right situation. Anyway, trying to think up names for "the band". Oh, and I just finished up being part of the rock opera"Tommy". It was a horrible and wonderful experience. Horrible because I wasted a ton of time being angry and frustrated and we struggled the first few performances. Wonderful because a few people forgave me and I made some new friends. I hope I see some of you again. Also, I am taking classes, I guess a second Master's degree. Why? I am not sure anymore. Yes, there are reasons, but they are not that interesting. So, time to flesh out the running schedule, the cross-training, the first race. I had thought Heaven Can Wait, but I think I need to move on to something else. Anyone know of a good 5-8k in may or June? I need something to give me a benchmark. Please, universe, can you make the ugly bad men stop saying stupid stuff on the TV? Guess I'll have to wail until November. Holly j