small victories

I know that many of you that read this blog are active, healthy people. I was once too. Sort of. To be honest, I was never one of those people who enjoyed working out. Or even being super active. I played soccer in high school and loved swimming as a kid, but that's all really. I've never understood people who say that working out makes them feel better, but I do know that working out made me feel better about myself and that was something.

When I hurt my back I lost all motivation to be active. I can't really explain it, but when the simple movements required to get through the day (bending to plug in your laptop, crossing your foot over your knee to tie your shoes, reaching across the backseat of the car to retrieve an umbrella) cause you pain and discomfort, the thought of actual exercise seems ridiculous. I would have moments and try, after all I herniated those discs nearly two years ago, but it would hurt too much or be too hard and I would be too busy with work and school to keep trying. This week, with eleven months to go until the wedding and me feeling more and more gross about my physical self, I decided that enough was enough. This month, my goal is to run on the elliptical for 30 minutes three times a week.

I did it. More than that, though, today was the first time since I got hurt that I ran a mile in under 15 minutes. I know that sounds lame, but you have to consider the circumstances. And that, even when I was running every day after work, I still never went faster than maybe 9 minutes/mile. So today, I celebrate this little victory. And share it with all of you. And hope you won't mock how out of shape I am.

Five things

First and foremost, I have to publicly congratulate Molly and Eric, whose daughter Layla Cadiz was born this morning. I have only seen pictures, but just like the children of my other friends, I am already in love. Congratulations on the newly expanded family, Molly & Eric!

Second, I am back at work. Not that I ever left, but I am now back working for the 2009-2010 school year. It was a long week of meetings and planning, but not so bad. Ask me how I feel about it again when we're two weeks into planning time and still have a week or so to go.

Third, I have this HUGE paper due for grad school on Sunday. I have had two weeks to work on it and I have done next to nothing so far. Brian has a softball tournament this weekend so I'm planning to bang it out in the next two days. It'll get done and it'll be fine, but I'm a little worried that I'll wave goodbye to my 4.0 GPA this semester. In more positive grad school news, I am now more than halfway through my master's program - after this one ends (in 1.5 weeks), only 4 more to go.

Fourth, I had my first crazy bride moment last weekend. A few weeks ago I thought I found the perfect bridesmaid dress at Macy's. It was a nice purple, bright and vivid, which I want. But then, after telling everyone all about it, I started to second guess myself. So I sent Maggie to a bridal shop in Wausau to check another option. She gave a preliminary thumbs-up, so Brian and I went to Upper Marlboro, MD to look. And it was there, standing amongst the mirrors and finery, that I looked at my dear fiance and asked, with no sense of irony in my voice, which color he liked more - the eggplant or the grape. G-d bless him for not laughing in my face.

Fifth, Brian's friends and their 3 year old daughter are visiting us from LA next week. Visiting us and staying in our (admittedly overcrowded) guest room. I am really looking forward to seeing them and hanging out with them and their daughter. Plus, in honor of their visit, I took next Friday off, which is definitely something to look forward to.

Happy weekending!