A Good Ramble (NOT a mood, I promise)

Yesterday was the kind of day I miss.

The kind of day that lays a foundation for me. 

Quietly productive.

Lots of FS moments (although they really aren't future anymore). Guess it's more ME moments. 

A few examples:

☺Made wildflower seed packets to put in my LFL and give to friends.

☺Watched a LIVE group reading for a book launch sponsored by Priya Parker while I cooked. Attending live is different. You can interact in the chat and it gives a different kind of connection. 

☺Finished political postcards while I texted with some friends. 

☺Read the 2nd book my hairdresser wrote. My cancel friend and I are doing a buddy read. Our own little bookclub. It's short and fast. Only took me a little over an hour to read.

☺Started a new book. Let it bump the line because I was in the mood and it's so fun. More on this -- I'll finish it soon.

(Also, many chores and organizing which felt good too.)

It IS important. 

I had (made) time to do the little things. Nothing was rushed. It was delightful. Workout and meditation too without looking at the clock. 

I planned some of the open spaces for this week and decided what I want to do. It's not about never filling the time slots, but about not filling them weeks in advance. How can I know what feels right a month ahead? Know what kind of moments I'll need in that moment?

I'm not talking about the special things, I'm talking lunch or coffee or shopping or appointments or volunteering or attending meetings. Average things. When I fill the calendar to the brim, there's no space for spontaneity. 

Maybe I need friend time or a long meditation or a solo hike or solo thrifting or chore time or reading time or to do nothing. Quiet time gives me space to know what I need -- it's more present moment kind of planning. 

I think this is an important distinction. It's not about being too full, it's about WHEN I fill it. 

I left a lot of this week open, had space to listen to what I need (want), and filled some spaces accordingly. 

I put 3 things on the calendar and all of them feel really good. They all feel like yeses this week. Had I said yes to some stuff weeks ago, there would be no space for any of these.

☺Pedicure this morning.

☺Lunch and Nature Center on Wednesday with friends. 

☺Verity at the local theater on Friday. I've wanted to try this theater since we moved here AND I like the book so excited for the movie. 

On a side note. 

This is tricky to describe without it seeming strange. 

I purchased 2 tickets for the movies and decided to ask a friend. I have no problem going by myself, but I was in the mood to go with someone. First 3 people weren't available. The 4th said yes. 

This is one of those moments that I see when I do a "perfect ordinary day" visualization. 

An abundance of friends to choose from -- not cycling through just a couple. I have a lot of people I can invite to the movies who I think would be interested in going and I like spending time with them. I have a solid social circle. None of the asks were out of place for the nature of our relationship. (Like asking some random person I met on a hike kind of thing.) I completely believe the first 3 wanted to go, but they weren't available last minute, so I keep going. Again, it wasn't a ranking kind of thing, more just who haven't I seen in a minute. The person going is the person I'm out with on Wednesday so she wasn't a first ask for that reason, but I'm very happy to go with her to the movies. (P.S. I know the other person I'm out with on Wednesday isn't available on Friday or I would've asked her too.)

Does this make sense? 

I like having women in my life who I can have a fun afternoon with -- nothing deep, just social fun. Deep is great. Advance planning is often necessary with everyone's schedules. BUT it's nice to have options for last minute fun with a friend. 

I've rambled on today so I'll leave it here. 

Have a good day. Later gators.

P.S. I like the ☺☺☺☺☺☺ to make a list. Prepare your hearts for me overusing it. Hah!

Gee Gee Weekend

Did you miss me?

So many cars and trucks and toddler play. I loved it and am very happy to be on a Gee Gee break for a minute. (I'm Granny, but he named me Gee Gee and refuses to call me anything else lol.) 

A little catch up ... 

Hard hike was hard, but the weather was beautiful. The hike is mostly rocks and my heel is bothering me. A little plantar fasciitis-- of course. Good lord, one thing improves, the next thing steps up. I might need more cushioned hiking shoes. The timed club hike for a qualifier is on Wednesday. 

Fall mountain flowers

On Saturday we had breakfast with my youngest and DIL. They test drove my car to see if they liked it. We're giving it to them because my son's car is 12 years old. 

Ran into my cousin and his wife at coffee on Sunday -- they live in the same town and we've never run into them. Fun little catch up. 

Nice little social moments over the weekend. But it was toddler "work" from first moment to late at night (stinker stayed up very late) so I am worn to a nub. 

This morning is focused on getting organized and cleaned up. Need to plan out the week and get moving on a number of things. 

I'm holding to the calendar brief and keeping open spaces -- way more than I normally do. Options came up for today and I decided that I would need the entire day to decompress and recover from the long weekend. Totally right and I would be kicking myself if I had made plans. NOW me is trying to be more considerate of FUTURE me. 

I used to say time with people = connection and that's always a top priority. 

Now I include myself in that (at the top of the list).

Time with me = connection with myself and THAT'S the foundation on building my life and connecting with others. 

Okay, nice to be back at it. 

I've spent the morning doing chores and now it's time for a workout and garden. 

Mornings are cooler, but afternoons still need to calm down. I'm happy about the mornings though.

Hope you have a great start to the week.

Later gators.

Fall?!?

Hello, Fall. 

We've been not-so patiently waiting.

We're getting a bounce into higher temps next week, but mornings look reasonable.

Yes, yea, hallelujah.

I'm hiking a hard hike this morning. I'm registered for this same hike next week with the hiking club to have a qualifier hike before I attempt the D5 hikes at the end of October. (Today's hike is a D4.) I've never hiked a D5 and it feels a bit scary. I haven't hiked this D4 hike in a very long time though so I need refresher before the timed qualifier. 

Anyway ... here's an update on things big and small ...

Bookstore and lunch was really nice. We have deep, interesting conversations. She's a life coach and you can tell. 

Fall garden is mostly planted.

I donated another 4 pounds of peppers to the food bank.

My new car is already ready, but we're not picking up until next week. We have our grandson for the weekend so the car will wait. 

Life has felt a bit off kilter for a couple of months. Physically, mentally -- probably feeding off each other. It feels like I'm turning the corner (slowly). 

Modifying my calendar is helping. October is more open, more time for quiet me things (like hiking to build up to the D5). Prioritizing what matters to me. The trick is to keep it this way.

I've been noticing ways to modify decisions. Maybe it's not a full yes, but it's a partial yes. (I can't do lunch, but I'll meet you for shopping -- that kind of thing.)

I'm regularly doing upper arm Peloton classes to build up again. Pilates is on hold until I get stronger and my neck settles down. I don't have the pain down my arm anymore, but my neck is so dang stiff. I don't want to get injured minute one on the reformer (or ever *knocks wood*).

It looks like the 2 places that I'm interested in taking Pilates, both offer a starter package of 3 private classes. I'm going to stop into both and get a vibe about the place before I make a decision. I have it slated for October, but I might delay until November because of the focus on hiking. Who knows, if I get really into the Peloton platform, maybe I don't try Pilates. My PT says Peloton has everything I need. 

Seems to me, that the stiller I am (aka the more quiet spaces), the better I decide what's right for me. Catch 22 scenario. Forego the quiet, fill the calendar with too many "junk" things, then no time for quiet, and the circle continues. 

Sometimes I forget to use my agency too. I run on autopilot. Even small things. 

I'm stuck behind 3 library books that aren't interesting me right now. I've been on hold for them for a long time and now that they're available, I'm not in the mood. I decided to return them, knowing I can take them out again if the mood strikes. Reading came to a hard stop because I felt I "should" read the books, but wasn't choosing to read when I had the opportunity. A number of my library holds are books that I'm not sure I'll love anyway (hence the library instead of purchasing). 

That's probably enough for today. 

Even though it's cooler today, I don't want to hike too late. 

Have a good day. 

Oh, my grandson comes tonight and I might not have morning time until Monday. If I'm MIA, it's because I'm playing cars and trucks instead lol.

Later gators. 

I'm a Mess

Power went on/off throughout the storm, but never stayed out -- phew. The drive to court was crazy though. I had no idea storms were in the area. The drip pans held the roof leak. 

I got a few things off the to-do list -- the big ones. That's always a relief. 

I've been looking for a toddler kitchen stool on FB Marketplace. They're pricey though, even on Marketplace. I found one yesterday for $30 (price reduced) a mile from my house. Someone ghosted the pickup earlier so I grabbed it last night. Exactly what I was looking for -- slim, adjustable. Bonus that it's white. Christmas cookie decorating with my grandson this year -- love, love!!

Did I mention I've been eating a country loaf of bread that I sliced and froze. I thought it was the GF bread. It isn't and I'm full on suffering for it. Joints, mood, night sweats (that's from the heavy white carbs, not gluten). My fault. I have a number of loafs sliced from various farmer's markets, etc and I got mixed up. I forgot I gave the GF bread to my DIL. 

I'm cleaning up my calendar. Working on getting a better balance. And I seem to be totally sabotaging my days by eating like crap. The bread mistake aside, I've been snacking and way over eating dinner. I feel it in my body and my energy. 

I swear it's some subconscious decision to give myself an excuse to slow down because I don't feel well. 

This needs to end ASAP. Today. 

I didn't calculate my morning time correctly this morning either. I forgot I need to plant the fall garden and the cleaning crew is coming early. Best get moving.

I'm a MESS (!!)

Do better than me!

Later gators.

Green

Bought a car yesterday (available in next week or so). 

GREEN (!!)

I only buy white cars with tan interior. 

Way out of the box for me and it's kind of fun. And I wonder if I'll instantly regret it lol. Not that color changes anything about how the car drives.

Anyway. I little different version of myself showed up and I like it. 

In other news, I barely touched my to-do list (car buying takes way more time than you think). 

I have a volunteer court hearing this morning and babysitting in the afternoon. I need to get 3 chores finished in-between. It's going to be TIGHT. 

I had lunch plans with my cancel friend today and guess what?!? It helps my schedule, but geez. "It's fall break and I'm needed to babysit." You found out the day before? Come on -- that's BS. We've had this lunch on the calendar for a month. I confirmed with her on Friday. Never apologizes. Never acknowledges how it might inconvenience me. 

She gave me a couple of dates and I'm not available. I didn't offer anything else. Holding space on my calendar for things that come up and she doesn't get those spaces because of her lack of commitment. We bumped out another month and I'll offer dates when it gets closer. 

I'm disappointed. And I'm happy I'm holding boundaries. Happy I'm not barking up an unavailable tree. 

I'm slowly clearing up my "too full" calendar. 

Okay, I need to go -- storms happening and we keep having the power flick off. I need to get in the shower before the court hearing. I MUST be able to blow dry my hair. Eeeek. 

Later gators. 

Hamilton at The Fox

Hamilton (!!)

It was really good (tickets were legit -- phew).

I had a mild panic at the first few rap numbers because I could barely understand a word. Turns out no one could hah! It got vastly better after that, thankfully, since the entire performance was sung. 

Loved the story, especially about his wife (and the actress's voice was incredible). The part of the King of England was my favorite -- comedic relief. 

Seats were high, but good.
Fox Theater in Atlanta.

Home to play with my grandson for a bit. We have him a lot this week and now an extra night for the weekend. Wish us luck entertaining a toddler for days and days lol, but, man, is he fun. Seems like the weather will break and we can get outside to play. Pretty please -- come on fall, you can do it!

Here's the artwork I bought from the Art Festival. I like it a lot. I'll hang it this week. It's fabric and glued metal rings. She's offering a class -- I'll check it out.

Random bit -- violet is blooming again. It was a gift from a friend. It's plant watering day -- boo. I save a favorite podcast for the occasion. It's what gets me through it -- least favorite chore. Love the plants, hate the watering process in this house.

I initially had a long hike on the calendar today, but the weather is turning in a couple of days so I bumped it. Why bother with hot and humid when "much better" is days away. 

The switch means today is a smorgasbord of things which need to be done and I'll be very glad to clean up a lot of the week's to-dos today. It'll be a push to fit it all in though.

I also slept in, or at least stayed in bed later this morning. I was awake and did a sleepy meditation before I got up. Slow, calm, quiet roll for the first bit of the morning. I'm working on bringing space and quiet and FUN back into my days. 

That's all from here. While I sometimes enjoy a later rise, it does mean it feels shockingly late already.

Have a good start to the week. Later gators. 

The Bigger Life

I chose the bigger life.

Had a fun, full day. 

Of course I did. 

It's almost always the happier choice. 

The 5K:

Cloud cover during the entire run -- sun came through when I was walking back to the car. Warm, humid, but not nearly as miserable as predicted. 

I ran okay considering. 

I CAN do better ... maybe next year. 

Two more 5Ks before the end of the year. 

One with Duke so that won't be faster.

Maybe the Turkey Trot for a PR this year??

An incredible community and event. 

Heart of the town.

Behind me at the start.

A friend volunteering.

The one arm waved.
It was welcoming everyone.

I had time after the race to stop at our local Art Festival and walk through with a friend. I bought a few things, including this whimsical mug. The artist made beautiful pottery, but this one was silly and something different. It has a great feel in my hand with the nose as a kind of handle. 

Test drove cars. Looks like there's a lead choice, but still working on some of the details. Checking it out on Monday again.

Dinner out with our neighbors. I liked the GF pasta, but the sauce was way, way too salty. That says a lot because I salt generously. I think most of the salt came from anchovies and it was sort of an off flavor to me. I've had this kind of sauce before and usually enjoy it. I'd go back, but order differently. 

I didn't feel well most of the day, but not horrible enough to let it change anything. My stomach is off this morning again and I'm a little bit stuffy. My dang ear is still clogged. 

I'm going to see Hamilton in the city with my DILs today. I'm slightly nervous because I bought tickets from a 3rd party seller. Fingers crossed it's not a scam -- it doesn't seem to be. Love a matinee. Extra love an early matinee. 

But first, a workout. Then garden time. Best get moving.

Have a great day.

Later gators.