Choices Today

The hike. 

Beautiful weather on the mountain, cool and breezy. Still a bit wet, but manageable. One downed tree that was passable. Ran into the Camino couple who offered to help me plan my trip, but I never took them up on it. Maybe I will at some point. It was fun to chat with them a bit. 

Found a number of photos -- didn't stop for everyone because I hike with my phone in my backpack on this hike (so many rocks I worry about breaking my phone if I slip). 

Dear Diary,

"I saw god today" ...

... and my hiking spirit animal,

.... and an evil snake trapped by the mountain gods. 

It was a fun hike. I did the extra distance. This hike is hard. Lots of climbing. Quite technical with almost a rock scramble in few areas -- which makes it interesting and a little dangerous. I took the downhills extra slow because I worry about falling when it's wet and hubby is out of town. 

It's the qualifier hike for the club and I made time for both the regular qualifier and the extra distance one. 

Hit the elevation level.
Needed 3 more miles for the distance level. 

I'm sore today. Big blister from new hiking shoes, but my foot felt a lot better. Geez, I worry I can do the distance for these 2 big hikes coming up. One will add 3 miles. One adds 4 miles. Same elevation. My body felt rather dead after, but I guess that's what training is for. I hope it's enough.

Got a text on the hike -- massage canceled because she's sick. Moved to next week. Bummer, my body needed it, but I don't need a cold so I'm happy she postponed.

Got another text -- hair appointment today moved to Wednesday because her mom is in the hospital. Of course I hope her mom is okay (sounds like it), but pretty please let my hair get done this week. Roots and major frizz happening. 

(Both changes were okay because I'm keeping my schedule more open -- phew.)

Today is up in the air now. 

I could meet up with my aunt to thrift -- she's in the area for an appointment.

I could meet up with the Tuesday group for lunch. They're eating locally. 

Not sure if I want to do anything with anyone. I'll play it by ear. I have plenty of time for me.

Neither choice is super interesting to me today though.

(I'm babysitting this afternoon -- I need to remember this hah!!)

Would love to see my aunt, but I'm not up for thrifting.

Wouldn't mind going out to lunch with the ladies, but the restaurant they're going to isn't a favorite of mine. I actually don't care for it. I'll see some of them on Friday.

I'm in a bit of a conundrum though since everyone will be local. I didn't update either that my hair was postponed. Running into them would be awkward and a little rude. 

Ideally, I'd like to long walk Duke this morning and then head to lunch with one of my MANY books to read for an hour. I can probably be discreet since I know where they're going to be, but walking might be out of the question. Hmmmm ... I'll give it some thought. 

I need time in the garden, but I'm leaving that until Thursday. I'm super duper pleased with so many open moments in the week. I have choices with my time. Opportunities to be flexible with what I want. 

Today I want a slow roll morning.

Walk to vote.

Lunch by myself.

Read. 

Afternoon with my grandson. 

There's my answer. 

Have a great Tuesday. 

Later gators. 

Monday Hike and Massage

Up early to hike today. 

I really like solo hiking, but "training" for the 2 upcoming BIG hikes isn't particularly fun, feels more like an obligation. It's daunting to have hours and hours of solo hiking ahead. I don't wear headphones so it's me and my thoughts for miles and miles. After a couple of hours, I get bored with myself lol. 

My hiking buddy who's training for a big spring trip is back from travel this week. I hope she's up for some hiking. She usually hikes half the mileage with me and that would be great to have the company. Tuesday hiking group is too slow these days.

BTW, it ended up mist raining all morning so a hike on granite wasn't for me after all. I would love to have this hike behind me, but, alas, I'll get to it this morning ... all by myself (like the song). 

That said, I have a pretty nice week ahead. It's a good balance.

After the hike this morning, I'm doing a quick turnaround and heading to a massage. I've been booking monthly to see if this helps all the parts stay limber. It certainly feels good.

No pictures finds yesterday. 

I'll look today.

First go of the new, new car this morning. Pretty please no replay of the last time I tried to drive it. This is my first time driving it and I'll start in the dark. I haven't seen the headlights yet -- have to be better than my last car. 

Okay, best get moving. 

I'm starting the hike at barely first light. 

We need the time change to happen. 

Have a good Monday and start to the week.

Later gators. 

Football Sunday

Storm has passed and wasn't nearly what the forecast predicted for our area (thankfully).

P.S. I could've hiked today, but since I did a hard bike workout, my legs wouldn't have enough steam for this hike. 

Understandably canceled outdoor events, but it also closed our library and the postponed an author event (tickets were free, so not a huge deal). Wow. I was very surprised to see the library closed for the day. FOUR books on hold (tried to get them yesterday) and I ended up starting a HUGE book last night. This will be interesting to manage. Library is closed until Tuesday with the holiday. 

Back in the day, I used to read multiple books at once as long as they were different. These days, I'm usually a one book or two at most (non-fiction and fiction). Going to give multiple books a try this week. A couple of the holds are non-fiction browsing kind of books so that's easy enough.

Anyway, I have a picture to share -- only one I noticed yesterday. Also, turns out there are a number of IG accounts that do this sort of thing (hello, algorithm). Not sure how long I'll do this, but it's fun right now. Makes me pay attention in a different way.

Dear Diary,

Today I noticed my workout tried to get a laugh. Really, how old are you?!? (And I did laugh!)

I did something I've never done before ... I changed plans on my cancel friend. I've canceled on her before when I've been contagious (neither of us want germs), but I've never changed because something better came up. And even sick cancelations I can count on one hand in the 13 years we've been friends. 

We're having lunch a day earlier. I don't know what I would've done if she couldn't change, but I didn't have to make that decision. 

I want to work a phone bank ahead of the elections that afternoon. I'm not changing for something social, but still. Maybe this is the timber I need in our friendship rhythm. Maybe I can alter plans too. I don't want to be THAT person though, but this is important to me. She cancels (changes) all the time for pretty much anything that comes up. I actually wondered if she'd cancel this week too and that thought drove the decision for me to change plans. 

It's football Sunday with the kids. Hubby is in charge of the food today. Looks like takeout from KFC. Not a bad choice. It's actually my cancel friend who gave us that idea. When she has a crowd to her lake house she often does this for dinner and people love it. Hubby did it once before when I was out of town. 

I'll be spending about 6 hours playing matchbox cars (no exaggeration). 

Oh, in the name of matchbox cars, we watched Matchbox Cars movie on Apple TV. It was enjoyable. I gave it a B- for a home movie. Typical, predictable, but it was funny. 

Speaking of cars ...

I need to get my new car setup today. 

Maybe I can feel settled in a car again. 

Last week was a crazy ride. 

Minor bump of inconvenience in the long run, but it wasn't fun.

Have a good day. Later gators. 

A Stormy Saturday

GM from GA and the storm. 

Power went on/off for a bit this morning, but is back on for now. Hopefully holds for a Peloton ride today. Obviously, I'm here and not riding because I refuse to be rushed today. Take that, storm haha. 

I have a couple of picture entries from yesterday. It's fun to look for things. Harder to notice than I thought. Easy to find something pretty, harder to find something humorous or ironic. 

Dear Diary,

Today I saw a sign that frequently feels misunderstood ...

I did a double-take

 

... and an emphatic warning about driving with your eyes open. 

Picked up the new car last evening. Identical twin to the faulty car so now I need to reset the bad taste. Back to being fun and me and something unexpected. It's NOT the same car (I keep repeating to myself).

Of course, won't drive it today because of the storm. All I need is a tree branch to fall on it. It's super windy all day (hence the unreliable power). Will I ever get to drive my car? Good lord. 

The rental had low tire pressure all drive home from the change in temperature. I couldn't find a station with a working air pump on the mountain drive -- stopped 3 times and gave up. It wasn't horribly low, but it kept alerting every 5 minutes -- that was fun. 

I've been under a "car black cloud" and I'm ready to settle in and not have to think about anything to do with cars. I drove 5 cars in one week. 

Maybe I have some super power of opposite manifestation.

Make a declaration. 

Watch the universe laugh and laugh and do the opposite. 

"Summer of ease and unbothered."

"I hate driving different cars." 

"At least this rental will be reliable for the road trip."

A last minute hike was added for tomorrow morning and it fits the bill for me, BUT the rain will continue until just before the hike (as of now). It's a lot of rocks and some granite slopes and I'm worried about slipping if it's wet. This is another hike I don't do when rain is in the forecast for that reason. I know a number of people who've had hard falls when it's wet. 

And, I want to do the hike. Nice option to hike with the group. Big mileage and elevation. Saves me from one of the weekday hikes solo (and a bit boring for these longer hikes). What to do? If I sign up, I won't ride today because my legs need to be fresh. 

I have a little more time to think about it. 

Just looked at the weather for that mountain and I'm out -- sadly. Rain possible at the start and still a lot of wind. They get some big branches down on that mountain. Too much when I can hike another day, the exact same hike, just solo. 

On that note, I'll get going on the workout while the power is on. I'm ready for a good sweat. 

Stay dry if you're in this storm.

Later gators. 

P.S. Roof is holding so far ... fingers crossed.

Asheville Quickie

GM from Asheville. 

I didn't find any "Dear Diary" entries (I looked), but I have a few pictures. I got into Asheville and decided to walk to lunch and Trader Joe's. Since I walk around town so much at home, the walk felt like nothing (even the hill at the end). Limited to one bag of groceries. I wanted to get some snacks for the kids' visit.

Three drinks and a book.
Waiting for lunch. My annual
PSL for the season.

In the bathroom.

Biggest watermelon.
Is it actually a watermelon?

More bathroom wisdom.

Spent the rest of the day setting up the house, little bit of fall decor, making up beds, LFL re-stock (totally empty). It hits differently than a big clean (which will be next visit) so it felt more fun than hard. No point in going crazy when the house will have 8 people staying here and it will be a mess after. 

Ready for 3 toddlers

Looks enticing, if I do say so myself. 

Bear in the street -- no picture. They're filling up for the winter with all the acorns dropping from the trees.

Using the big rental truck to take home a couple of things that could never fit in my car. That's a win for having to drive it. 

I checked in with the car dealership and with a bunch of back-n-forth, we're getting the replacement car this afternoon. I'm proud how I showed up for this situation. Proud of asking for something that wasn't being offered. Calmly. Reasonably. 

New car just in time for a weekend of significant storms. I'm not taking it out if I can help it -- geez. 

(I was looking at weather for Asheville. Looks like our rain is only on Saturday in GA.)

Why do I expect we'll lose power this weekend? It's very likely at BOTH houses with this storm. So many fall festivals impacted and such a disappointment for people getting married. The weekend is another wash -- second one in a row for October. 

If no power, then lots of reading time. I'm reading the above book (The Reformatory). Well recommended, highly reviewed. And BORING. I'm halfway on a 500+ book and it's the same-same for 250 pages. I googled and apparently the second half gets really good so I'm hanging in. I'm not convinced yet, but a lot of reviews say the first half IS boring with a very long setup for the excellent second half. 

I did something last night that I probably have only done as a child. Slept on top of the bed. Used a blanket under me and one over me. I wanted to wash sheets yesterday and not today so I did. Hah. It was fine and not uncomfortable. I sleep in a specific position with the neck pillow so it wasn't a problem. Ta-da -- bed is ready for company. 

I'm trying to figure out my workout schedule this week. I need to get significant hiking time without aggravating anything. New shoes are expected tomorrow. I'm not planning to hike until I get the shoes. All this to say -- should I run today? I want to (as much as I ever "really" want to) but I need to keep my body (and feet) happy for the hiking miles this week. 

Me being a wuss? Me being smart? Eeeek, I don't know. Decisions, decisions. 

Okay, I'm going to pass. I need to get on the road rather early today. My sister is stopping by to pick up donations then I'm leaving. Running and road trip don't work well for my body so I'm not going to push it today. The week opened up since the car gets exchanged today. 

I'm shouting to the universe and calendar gods that it stays open. Doing everything I can on my end. 

Okay, time to get packing up. 

Have a very good start to the weekend.

I'll be on the lookout for "dear diary" moments. 

Later gators. 

Dear Diary and the Dichotomy of Small

Pictures and captions ... not sure if I'll find something everyday, but it's going to be fun to look. This account (sorry, don't know the name -- I don't follow it, just see it occasionally) does it in this format. It's creative. Mine aren't nearly as clever, but, again, fun to practice. If I see the account again, I'll note the name (maybe even follow it).

Dear diary, 

Today I saw a frustrated fungi and ...

(blue ball .. hahaha)

... a leaf practicing levitation ... 

(hard to see)

... and a tree with a heart of stone. 

(but lovable anyway)

I hiked (10.5 miles, 1800 elevation) and my feet were miserable from the jump. I don't think the trail runners have enough support. I ordered new shoes and this should help a lot. Otherwise I was fine. Tired by the end, but it's not a hard hike. 

The 2 hikes I'm training for are 11.5 and 12.5 miles with 2600 elevation. I'm more concerned about the mileage than the elevation. 

I registered for 2 training hikes with the club. One has a 1/4 mile of ridge line and I'm going to challenge myself to do it. It's dangerous if it's wet because it's sloped granite. If rain is expected, I'll drop the hike though. 4 miles are a steep climb up and down all granite before a long loop in the woods. I don't want to die on the ridge line (hah) or get injured slipping on the mountain. 

Hiking for hours left me time to think. 

Something on my mind was I'm missing SMALL things in my day-to-day that make me happy. Like noticing and taking pictures. The day is too crowded. I'm saying 'yes' too much. Leaving that space leaves space for those small things. Time to make a last minute garden donation. Time to read a poem with my coffee. Time to text a friend more thoughtfully.

AND, I'm starting to play SMALL with my life again. Not choosing the bigger life. Go out at night -- eeek, no. Choose harder hikes with a long drive -- nah. Make an effort to plan travel -- I'm too busy. 

It's an odd dichotomy -- missing small bits and needing to play bigger. It's along the lines of what Gretchen Rubin says, give yourself grace and expect more from yourself. Both sides of a coin.

I'm course correcting both (again!!!). My default seems to be the opposite. It happens slowly and I don't notice it early on. Usually some circumstance comes into play that starts the change (appropriately so) but then I continue off course well after the circumstance is finished. 

It feels good to back on track. Even this trip to Asheville. I almost talked myself out of it a couple of days ago because driving a big rental SUV (playing small) is out of my wheelhouse. I'm perfectly capable of driving a bigger vehicle. Going another time to setup for the kids is massively inconvenient. I don't want to get smaller and smaller as I age. I have the freedom and the health to live as large as I want right now and what a life disappointment to not take advantage of that privilege.

So I'm going large today -- large car, "large" decision. 

And, I'm going small. Finding the little moments I love. 

Hope you have a good day.

Later gators. 

P.S. I title the post after I write it. I particularly like this one today. 😍

New Day

The little shift over the last couple of days feels like it's making a difference.

I feel more like myself again. 

When this happens, I wonder if it's hormonal or circumstantial or stress. Something goes sideways and I have to fight to want to do anything. Fight the feeling of burying in the bed and ignoring the world. 

I pushed past that feeling, got a few things worked out, feel more myself again. I hope THIS feeling stays for a bit. 

I'm hiking mid-morning. Weather is cooler so I don't have to get out at the crack of dawn. If my foot stays happy, I'll hike 10 miles. If not, I'll go as long as I can. Trying to build up for the higher level hikes coming up.

I'll leave for Asheville early morning tomorrow and come home Friday afternoon. There's a big storm front again over the weekend and I don't want to drive over the mountain in this rental car durning a storm.  Fast turnaround. 

Get in.

Clean.

Sheets.

Setup. 

Maybe a mountain walk and coffee Friday morning. 

Things we do for our kids. 

This little one was on the porch pillar. Gave him a toss into the woods -- not good for the garden. 

P.S. I donated another 4 pounds of peppers yesterday. That never gets old, always a delight. The food bank was excited to get a midweek donation and that's such a good feeling.

P.P.S. Made a big eggplant stew with the final 7 eggplants -- that plant went crazy late summer. 

I haven't been taking as many pictures lately.

This is part of the off-kilter. 

Forgetting the basics.

I'm not staying present enough to notice. 

I can feel the difference. 

I saw this account on IG that takes pictures and uses imagination to describe them. 

There was a picture of an orange cone up against a stretched out hose -- "watched a cone cross the finish line and win the race."

The pictures are so endearing with the whimsy caption. 

I might give this a try -- one a day. I'll see what I find. 

I've neglected all-things-creative lately. I haven't painted a rock in MONTHS and MONTHS (in part because of my neck). My fall garden is dismal. Planted for the food bank, but MY planting is bonking. I need to clear out the rest of the summer garden next week and get busy. Might be a little late in the season.

I'm not sure I should "declare" anything for October given the summer declaration flop (hah), but I want a focus. 

I have space in the calendar -- filling, but still space. 

I want to use that space for getting back to MY basics. 

Rock painting.

Creative moments (need a Christmas project idea)

Visualization meditation.

Garden.

Spooky reading -- mood reading.

Hiking.

That energy is back today. 

*Please don't be too fleeting* 

On that note, I'm going to get moving for a meditation before the hike. Yesterday I couldn't muster one tiny bit of desire to hike, today I'm excited to get on the trail. 

What a difference a day makes. 

Fresh start. 

I hope you get the same if you need one.

Later gators.