Reading and Eating
I finished Winter of the World, which will from now on be referred to simply as WOW. It was so, so good, and I’m getting ready to start the third book in the trilogy! It starts in 1961, where the second book left off. But let’s go back to last week- I had my trip to the used bookstore. It was everything I hoped it would be (look away, Engie! I’ve discovered that Engie does NOT like used bookstores!) As I hoped, I did leave with a stack of books. Some classic murder mysteries- I can never resist- and more Ken Follett. I have no plans to read The Pillars of the Earth anytime soon, but I know I’ll read it eventually, and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to get a used copy in good condition. Eating! Once again, I did not do any meal prep on Sunday so we’re limping through the week. The good news is, I think I’m training my husband and daughter to expect less and less in the dinner department. I mean- we do eat. It’s just not fancy. Sunday morning I made gluten-free pumpkin pancakes from Running on Real Food. First, let’s look at a picture from the website: And here’s, ahem, mine. All that garnish aside, mine look really weird. But they did taste good! Chickpea flour is my new favorite flour. By the way, if you’re making pumpkin baked good this fall, don’t forget the formula to make them really flavorful- double the amount of pumpkin spice, and add a pinch of cloves. And whatever you do, do NOT forget the salt! What are you reading now? Top photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Getting Back on Track
I wrote in Sunday’s post that I’ve been feeling like my life is just a little off track. Then I looked around my house and realized one of the reasons is that I’ve been half-assing my beloved Pumpkin Palooza. I had some, but not all, of my fall decorations out, and then a summer-y wreath was lying on the table. Furthermore, I hadn’t had one special meal or snack to celebrate the start of football season. This was all wrong! I needed to rectify the situation right away. I lit a fall candle… …and got out all the rest of my fall decorations while watching the first half of the Dolphins game. At halftime I put together a little charcuterie board… …and then we watched the Dolphins come from behind to win the game. Fall is back on track! Let’s move on to running. SIGH. So far, my calf seems to be better, but my race plans are in tatters. Back in May, I signed up for a race on November 9th. It’s a trail race, and you run as far as you can in a certain amount of time. I chose the 12 hour option. Hahahahaha. Even if everything goes perfectly from now on, I’ll have no business running a 12 hour race in two months. I guess the good news is, it’s a 4.5 mile loop that you run over and over again. I can go and just run a couple loops. That would be kind of sad- but maybe less sad than not going at all? I’ve already paid for the race so if I can run at all, I’ll probably go. Now let’s deal with this jury summons. I know it’s our civic duty, but I think it’s unfair that it creates more of a financial hardship for some people than others. Additionally, some people never get called for jury duty, and some people get called all the time! Luckily I’ve come up with a great solution. My plan is, all registered voters would be required to submit a form every five years, indicating the time they would like to do their jury duty. That way, people would be able to pick a time that works best with their work schedule, and have time in advance to arrange for childcare, etc. Of course, if everyone chose July of 2027 it would be a fiasco. But I have solutions for that too! People who are retired, independently wealthy, or who have a very flexible work schedule could volunteer to be “swing jurors,” willing to be called at any time. There could be incentives for people who serve in months like December (which I’m guessing would be the least popular)- like if you sit on a jury in December, you’re exempt for the rest of your life. I’ll be submitting my request for a postponement- do you think I should include my detailed plan for an overhaul of the entire system? Haha, that might get me excused permanently (“Don’t let this woman near the courthouse- she’s obviously a troublemaker!”) Anyway, I’m starting to feel a little better. As long as I can continue to run and nothing else goes wrong, I think I’m back on track. How do you like my plan? Would you volunteer to be a “swing juror?” Top photo by Redd F on Unsplash
Weekly Rundown- Still Moving
Oh, hello! It has been… a week. Running is going well (still following the every third day schedule) and Pumpkin Palooza is in full swing- but somehow I feel like my life is slightly off track. Well, I’ll just keep moving forward until things start to click again. I’m linking up as always with Kim and Deborah for this Weekly Rundown. Here we go… Sunday Running day! I walked a mile and ran two. Everything felt good! Monday No school because of Labor Day, but I had to work. I wanted to go to the gym, but the gym didn’t open till 8, WHAT? If I have to work, so should everyone else! Just kidding. Instead I went for a walk, and I was very glad I did. Sunday was rainy and gloomy, but today while I was walking the sun came out and I was happy to be out there. 3 fast miles! Tuesday This was a strength day at home including hip stability exercises, Bulgarian split squats, and the Caroline Girvan deadbug workout.. Wednesday Running day!!! Wednesday is my day off, and I was so happy to run in the daylight! Yes, it was hot- but so what? I walked one mile and ran 3 with no pain, woohoo!!! Thursday More strength at home. I did an upper body workout from Sally McRae’s app, and then the Caroline Girvan deadbug workout again. Honestly, I’m getting tired of this one. But every time I try a different ab workout, it turns out to be a million crunches that strain my neck, so I keep coming back to Caroline and her deadbugs. Friday Finally, leg day at the gym! I did some single leg balance exercises, then squats, deadlifts, and abs. After work I had an appointment with my sports chiropractor for another ART treatment. I’m… cautiously optimistic? I’ve been through this so many times now. My calf will feel great- until it doesn’t. I’m hoping this time it’s finally healing. As I mentioned in Friday’s coffee date post, this was a tumultuous week. But you know what? It’s Friday night, so let’s just relax and enjoy- GAAAAAAH! My husband brought in the mail and I had a frickin’ JURY SUMMONS. For God’s sake, what is going to happen next??? I mean, I realize jury duty is not on the same level as someone dying, but I can’t afford to lose two weeks of work in November, our busiest time of year. Well, hopefully I can manage to weasel my way out of this civic duty- sigh. Saturday Alright. This should have been a running day, but my chiro always wants me to take a day off after a treatment, and the truth is, I was pretty sore. I enjoyed sleeping in a little before going to work. In the afternoon I watched Baylor lose, and then my husband and I went out with some friends for a serious attitude adjustment. Sunday On tap- RUNNING! Then, pumpkin pancakes and in the afternoon I”ll get some football-palooza going. Trying to go into the new week with a good mindset! How was your week? Do you like getting called for jury duty? (hahahahaha…)
Somber Coffee Date
It’s the first Friday of the month, so I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date! Sadly, we just received news that my husband’s brother, Charles, died. I couldn’t just go ahead and write a lighthearted post, but on the other hand I don’t want to make this post too heavy either. Let me explain… Charles was an eccentric man, and in later years had become reclusive. My husband visited him occasionally, but the rest of us never saw him. When she found out he had passed, my daughter said “Oh no- I was hoping to meet him someday!” All this is to say, the only person greatly affected by his death is my husband. Charles was much older than my husband, and was a father figure to him when they were growing up. The family dynamics are complicated, but any way you look at it, it’s hard to lose a family member. But life goes on! While giving my husband all the support he needs, the rest of us are carrying on. Here’s what I’m looking forward to this weekend: NOT WORKING. I always work Saturday mornings, but then have the rest of the weekend off. Two Sundays ago, I went in to work to pick up a few extra hours. I really didn’t enjoy that, and vowed I wouldn’t do it again. But then last Sunday someone really wanted me to come to her house and give her and her daughter a massage. I couldn’t turn down two private massages, so I did it. But seriously. This Sunday I am NOT WORKING. FOOTBALL! So much football! Starting tonight (Thursday) with KC and Mahomes, then the second Baylor game on Saturday afternoon, and continuing Sunday afternoon with the first Dolphins game of the season. In honor of the occasion I’m going to get out all my football decorations (why are they not out yet???) and make a fun charcuterie board for the Dolphins game. RUNNING! I’m continuing with my every third day running schedule, and so far, so good. Saturday is a running day, woohoo!!! What are you looking forward to this weekend? As you can see, I have not fixed my blog issues yet. It won’t be this way forever! (OR WILL IT? Just kidding. I’ll fix it soon.) Top photo by Trishy on Unsplash