A Rant

OHMYGODYOUGUYS

Pre-story:
In college I dated this guy who had a duvet, and, coincidentally, a duvet cover. For some reason it was the most comfortable angel-inspired invention in bedding I had thusly encountered. It was made perfectly for the single dorm bed and it had these neat buttons that kept it attached to the duvet. And it was amazing.

Story:
Many of you don't know me. That's cool. But try to picture the following.... it's 15+ years later. My husband and I own, not one, but TWO queen-sized duvets (see: living in Montana). Now picture, I've been sick for more than a week, I'm home alone, hyped up on Nyquil, it's 11pm, and I'm trying to wrestle a 45lb duvet into it's cover.

WHO INVENTED THIS THING???? How is one human supposed to accomplish this? I was actually wearing the duvet cover for a few minutes, thinking I might be able to fool the cover into thinking I was the duvet.

Ok. I understand this is completely a white person problem. And that the Nyquil has a lot to do with it. But, folks, please increase the national funding for duvet technology. Please? Because I'm tired and Game of Thrones Book 3 is not going to read itself.

Inspiration

This is going to be a terrible post. Just a little warning.

1. We had a death in the family this week and it sucks. A lot. And hard. Especially considering that my own brain chemistry has been trying to derail my tenuous grasp on housework... this week hasn't been easy.

2. So what did I do? I went for a run. Obviously. And, predictably, I broke down sobbing about 2/3 of the way through it. But I still finished. And it was a good run. I dipped below the 10 minute per mile mark... and even finished sprinting in the 8's. It was also for a good cause: The Sub-30 Club's Virtual 5k. We raised just under $2000 for the Wounded Warrior Project and had 200 people participate.

Crappy picture. Sorry.

3. One of the weirdest things started off the week. Someone I don't know very well sent me an email telling me about an awesome running achievement. And ended it with, "You've inspired me." 

3a) We never really know how we're affecting other people. Or when. Or with what part of our life. I run because it keeps my life in order. I run because it helps me deal with things, and makes me feel good. I run for me. (And sometimes to raise thousands of dollars for charity.)

3b) Cool. Just... cool. I feel so warm and fuzzy, and happy, and awesome- knowing that someone went out and did something cool. You go, person. I'm so happy to hear about people doing great things. Can I say that I'm inspired by other people being inspired? I think it's why I read the running blogs, and the running magazine, and the facebook posts of my running friends. It feels good to hear good things. So... go read some good things. I especially recommend Ali's blog Hit the Ground Running and Annie's blog Go Crow Go (oh yeah, I just did that you guys!).

And then... go do something for yourself. Bonus points if it inspires someone else. 

Overheard: Epocrates

Him: How are you feeling?

Me: Terrible. I'm still coughing.

Him: Yeah?

Me: My head is pounding. I would do ANYTHING to get rid of this headache.

Him: Did you take Motrin?

Me: No. I took cough medicine and I didn't know if I could take Motrin with it.

Him: You could have read the ingredients.

Me: I didn't do that.

Him: So you'll do ANYTHING to get rid of the headache except read a label?

Me: [singing]... But I won't do that.... no I won't do..... I would do any-thing for love..... But I won't do thaaaaaaaaaat.

Him: Meatloaf?

Me: Yep.

LOL

Every few months or so I check on the stats for the blog. This week something hysterical happened:

Can you see it? Someone actually searched, "prefer soapsuds to fleet enema" and came up with my blog. I know exactly which blog post this points to... and, honestly, it is much more about the daily life of the spouse-of-a-nurse than anything to do with medical advice.

I hope that person found a real answer to their question.

Reverse Psychology

Don't tell my mind that my body has started working out again.

Seriously, hush. No giant declarations. No willful proclamations of impending victory. Nothing about, "I once was weak and unmotivated but NO MORE!!" because that totally doesn't work. Preemptively putting a mark in the 'win' category online does not make it so. This time, I'm sneaking up on it. Shhhhhh...

That wasn't a 3 mile run on Tuesday. Also, the 35 minutes of interval strength-training today? Really I was watching Biggest Loser and simply "not sitting still." I'm still adding up the miles/minutes, but I'm not declaring victory over this recent battle yet.

Also, don't tell my mind that my body sat back down on the therapist's couch. I'm not sure my mind came with me that afternoon, so it might not have realized yet that anything was different. Nothing to see here folks... Park's closed, moose outside should have... These are not the droids you're...

How long has that sailboat painting been there? Let's go ride- SQUIRREL!!!



[I posted a link to this six years ago. And it is still powerful and insightful and life-altering. Please read what the lady had the guts to write: it's Heather Armstrong from Dooce.com, so you might already be familiar with her.]

Overheard: Like Smoking

Me: Man, look out there! It's beautiful!!

Friend: It's 33 degrees and snowing slush. 

Me: Yep. Perfect running weather. 

Friend: Um. No. Perfect sleeping weather. This is why I'm not a runner.

Me: Huh. I mean, I guess it's like smoking... the first few times it's really terrible and gross, and painful, but eventually you start to crave it and look forward to it. It feels like an addiction. 

Friend: Uh... ???

Me: Maybe it's an endorphin addiction? Or, like, your body gets used to the rush of...

Friend: [blank stare]

Me:... the rush of....

Friend: [blank stare]

Me: Yeah. So that's what running is about.

In other news, I took the advice of a few blog-friends and registered for a race. It's the Sub-30 Club virtual 5k. Mostly I love the t-shirt and the charity (Wounded Warrior). I'm not even sure I'll be able to run the sub-30 minute 5k that we're so proud of. I've only done it once, and that was after a ton of training. I'm probably looking at 34 minutes. But whatever. Right? 

Eff

I need to race again. I haven't worn a bib since June and I think it's making me batty. It doesn't help that I keep track of SO many friends and strangers who run and race. I've had to throw away my plans to run the Turkey Trot 1/2 marathon at the end of November because I just haven't trained at all. One run, once a week, isn't training. It's touring. I've spent too many days in pajamas instead of spandex. My goal of a 5 medal year got flushed right at the start.

Dang Ragnar.

Have any of you called the waaaaaaaaambulance yet? The bartender at my personal pity party is about to yell out last call. Something needs to change here. I need to start holding myself accountable to something. Pick up a training plan, pace a friend, register for a race... something. Sigh. Or just sit here in pajamas and drink more coffee.

"There's no shame in being crazy..."

A list of things I forgot, but then remembered, mainly about mental illness:

(Inspired by Jason Mraz and Jesse Jackson Jr.)

*Caffeine is a drug. A powerful mind-altering drug that can seriously mess with you.

*Sleep is not optional. Nope. Not even a little.

*Everyone feels crappy. To different degrees, and at different times, but they do.

*Everyone accomplishes amazing things. See above.

*MOVE your body. It feels better when you do that.

*REST your mind. See above.

*Cry when you need to.

*Drink wine when you can.

*Making lists feels productive. Checking things off, even more so.


Article about Jesse Jackson Jr.