2010 has been off to a good start, albeit not exactly what we'd expected. And I'm a bad blogger -- there are things I meant to recount, to recap, both for the few friends who've found there way here and for my own recollections.
I just came in from my "long run" and realized it had been more than a month since I updated.
First? The friend I mentioned in my last post did reply to my email. And left me with a huge grin on my face when I read it, even though I still need to reply in turn.
We started off the year with El Bandito joining a group of internet friends for a 57mile bike ride. After not having ridden more than 25miles in a day for years.
On a fixed gear, no less. Crazy man.
I did a lovely solo hike that same afternoon. Saw a coyote a few feet from the trailhead. Dipped in and out of fog and sun and got a little bit muddy and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It had been far too long since I'd played on the trails by myself. I discovered I tend to move faster alone, which amused me.
January is flying past -- I looked at the calendar today and realized we've had 4 dinners (and one brunch) with friends, volunteered doing groundskeeping work at the zoo, gone to an astronomy lecture, and dealt with landlords and insurance inspections...
...and I've gone hiking thrice (once with a friend where we got thoroughly wet and yet laughed most of the drive home), spent hours on the trapeze, started a weekly pilates class, met friends for walks multiple times and lunch twice, and have done almost all my training runs for the 5K (one, my shoes were still in my luggage, 150miles away from my final destination. stupid airlines. the second one I missed because I decided an actual rest day might be a good idea, having had hard physical workouts for >8 days in a row). Signing up for the 5K worked, at least in as much as it has motivated me to actually get out and run.
But the biggest thing of 2010 so far was the addition of a new feline member of the household. Our delightful yet neurotic cat N. (never name a cat after a neurotic ballet dancer -- it's too predictive!) hadn't coped well as an only cat after our beloved gray gato died in October. He'd taken to screaming at us for attention, but frequently being unwilling or unable to calm down enough to accept it. He and our elderly girl hadn't really gotten along, but apparently her presence in the house helped keep him calm. So we'd been thinking of bringing in another cat -- we had looked a few times, but weren't ready.
I'm not sure I was ready yet.
But a friend rescued a kitten off the side of the freeway. Covered in grime and dirt. Gorgeous little orange tabby polydactyl, probably about 5 months old. Fearless and intrepid. He got a clean bill of health from the vet's office after a weekend of being quarantined in our bathroom (at one point, he fell or jumped straight into my shower. I'm not sure which of us was more startled; I scooped him up quickly enough that he never really got upset), and cat integration is going remarkably well. And N. is definitely calmer with a second cat in the house. Weird.
And on a completely different note: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/index.cfm
and http://photos.pih.org/home2.html
They do good work. Help them if you can.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
monday miscellany
1) Today I stumbled across a college friend's blog. It's been a decade since we've seen each other, and that was a random catch-up lunch when El Bandito and I were in her town for another friend's wedding. I sent her an email; I hope she responds. I'll be a little sad if she doesn't. On the other hand, there was something very satisfying about just discovering that she's there. That her life seems to be generally good, that she seems fundamentally more content than those restless college years, that she's raising beautiful intelligent children with a husband who clearly still rocks her world.
ii) The Circus Center had its annual Open House this weekend. Casual show. I didn't perform. But I'm thinking I will this spring or summer (dates TBD) when the more formal showcase is held. I'm actually kind of excited by this idea. Odd, since I had no intention of performing, ever. I'm making progress; right now it's trying to choreograph the transitions between moves that is as challenging for me in developing an act as the actual moves. More so.
C) I'm "training" for a 5k. Ludicrous, eh? Especially to the more dedicated runners who occasionally read this blog (which probably means all two of you wonderful ladies!). I can run/walk one easily. I know that. But I haven't done any "official" running in a very long time. I'd like to run the whole thing. I have no doubt I could do that, even now. I'd like to do it in a respectable time. But mostly, I just want something to focus on to get me out there running consistently; I need those miles for my mind. Along with the trapeze. They're different things. And I make time for running if I have a goal. Less so if I don't.
cuatro) My parents were supposed to come visit for Thanksgiving. Those plans got axed by my father's health issues. He's better, but not fully recovered. It's changed our holiday plans somewhat. I kept thinking, that entire week "oh, I should show them X" -- it has been years since they visited and we've discovered so much more of the area since then.
sqrt(25)) El Bandito and I have been attending astronomy lectures at the science museum. It's fun to think about the edges of the unknown. Expansive. And so different from the unknowns that I spend my days thinking about. Other types of science are fun!
two+two+two) It's been a social whirlwind the last month. Holidays and out-of-towners suddenly in town and catching up with friends whom I haven't seen in months or years. I joke about being a hermit, as work, trapeze and El Bandito take up most of my time. It's been lovely to see so many friends recently.
the fifth prime number) A recent entry on a running/tri blog I read referred to the state of being "hangry". so hungry you are angry for no good reason. I understand that better than I ought to admit. I like the word mutation. It made me laugh in recognition.
and that seems like more than enough miscellany for a Monday.
ii) The Circus Center had its annual Open House this weekend. Casual show. I didn't perform. But I'm thinking I will this spring or summer (dates TBD) when the more formal showcase is held. I'm actually kind of excited by this idea. Odd, since I had no intention of performing, ever. I'm making progress; right now it's trying to choreograph the transitions between moves that is as challenging for me in developing an act as the actual moves. More so.
C) I'm "training" for a 5k. Ludicrous, eh? Especially to the more dedicated runners who occasionally read this blog (which probably means all two of you wonderful ladies!). I can run/walk one easily. I know that. But I haven't done any "official" running in a very long time. I'd like to run the whole thing. I have no doubt I could do that, even now. I'd like to do it in a respectable time. But mostly, I just want something to focus on to get me out there running consistently; I need those miles for my mind. Along with the trapeze. They're different things. And I make time for running if I have a goal. Less so if I don't.
cuatro) My parents were supposed to come visit for Thanksgiving. Those plans got axed by my father's health issues. He's better, but not fully recovered. It's changed our holiday plans somewhat. I kept thinking, that entire week "oh, I should show them X" -- it has been years since they visited and we've discovered so much more of the area since then.
sqrt(25)) El Bandito and I have been attending astronomy lectures at the science museum. It's fun to think about the edges of the unknown. Expansive. And so different from the unknowns that I spend my days thinking about. Other types of science are fun!
two+two+two) It's been a social whirlwind the last month. Holidays and out-of-towners suddenly in town and catching up with friends whom I haven't seen in months or years. I joke about being a hermit, as work, trapeze and El Bandito take up most of my time. It's been lovely to see so many friends recently.
the fifth prime number) A recent entry on a running/tri blog I read referred to the state of being "hangry". so hungry you are angry for no good reason. I understand that better than I ought to admit. I like the word mutation. It made me laugh in recognition.
and that seems like more than enough miscellany for a Monday.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
thursday three by three
I like when I read other people's Thursday Thirteens, but I don't know that I have thirteen things worth blogging about (for my whopping two readers!)
Or maybe it will be Thursday 3x3, three related sets of three things. That's more likely.
Set A: the parents
1. I am tired of parental health issues. Especially as I am far far away. My mother healed just fine from her lumpectomy. But my father ended up (completely unrelatedly)in the ICU for pulmonary embolisms. He's home now, recovering well although still on oxygen for any major exertion.
2. It is entirely in character that my father insisted on having breakfast before going to the emergency room. (When I told a friend about that last item, she said "So, what you're telling me is, you're related to your father?" I can't really argue the point validly.)
3. I feel fortunate that I talk to my parents frequently. That if my father had been 10 minutes later to the ER, which the doctors say would have been too late, at least there wouldn't have been lots left unsaid.
Set B, in which I hang by my heels
uno) I am sort-of taking an aerial dance class. Which is fun and challenges my brain. It's more a mental workout than a physical one, although I do get physical exercise. I've been working on technique and tricks for trapeze for several years, so the concept of playing on equipment and just trying things is somewhat liberating. But simultaneously intimidating. I am not very coordinated. I don't feel fluid and dancer-like; I feel bumbling and klutzy. The aerial dance class is at ... surprise... a dance studio. With other dance classes. Walking in there is really kind of neat. Full of people, full of energy. A buzz in the air. Kids running around. I can't quite describe it, but I like the vibe.
dos) Why the heck doesn't fitness transfer from one discipline to another? After September's fabulous hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies, my running got ignored for a few weeks. I feel a little like I'm starting over. I didn't run in September, although I hiked >60 miles in a week.
tres) My trapeze act is slowly coming together. I haven't been working on the act itself much lately, more on technique in general. I've had a few very intense classes recently and I feel like I am making progress. I don't have a natural aptitude for aerial arts. I don't have a gymnastic or dance background; I'm not fluid in my movements, or generally talented for the trapeze. But I feel like I'm getting better.
Set C, where October is a roller-coaster
i) October started out wonderfully. We "celebrated" my two-year surgiversary -- the two-year anniversary of my shoulder surgery. Which I celebrate because of how far I have come. We had a lovely day, a pleasant long stroll and a fabulous dinner, then joined a friend who was celebrating her birthday at a local bar. Much laughter and raucous enjoyment was had.
ii) and the following day, our darling old gray cat got sick. I'd promised her (and ourselves) that she'd been through enough with her spinal degeneration that I wouldn't put her through another major treatment regime or maker her live in pain. She basically just went into a full-body shutdown over 24 hours; by the time we got to the vet, the decision was obvious. It still sucked. Still sucks. I miss that little gray ghost. Stupid darn cats, causing us to get attached.
iii) that was just the first weekend of October. The rest of the month has been a crazy set of bumper-cars. The parental worries. Jury duty. Getting caught in a downpour; seeing a rare rainbow in the city.
Or maybe it will be Thursday 3x3, three related sets of three things. That's more likely.
Set A: the parents
1. I am tired of parental health issues. Especially as I am far far away. My mother healed just fine from her lumpectomy. But my father ended up (completely unrelatedly)in the ICU for pulmonary embolisms. He's home now, recovering well although still on oxygen for any major exertion.
2. It is entirely in character that my father insisted on having breakfast before going to the emergency room. (When I told a friend about that last item, she said "So, what you're telling me is, you're related to your father?" I can't really argue the point validly.)
3. I feel fortunate that I talk to my parents frequently. That if my father had been 10 minutes later to the ER, which the doctors say would have been too late, at least there wouldn't have been lots left unsaid.
Set B, in which I hang by my heels
uno) I am sort-of taking an aerial dance class. Which is fun and challenges my brain. It's more a mental workout than a physical one, although I do get physical exercise. I've been working on technique and tricks for trapeze for several years, so the concept of playing on equipment and just trying things is somewhat liberating. But simultaneously intimidating. I am not very coordinated. I don't feel fluid and dancer-like; I feel bumbling and klutzy. The aerial dance class is at ... surprise... a dance studio. With other dance classes. Walking in there is really kind of neat. Full of people, full of energy. A buzz in the air. Kids running around. I can't quite describe it, but I like the vibe.
dos) Why the heck doesn't fitness transfer from one discipline to another? After September's fabulous hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies, my running got ignored for a few weeks. I feel a little like I'm starting over. I didn't run in September, although I hiked >60 miles in a week.
tres) My trapeze act is slowly coming together. I haven't been working on the act itself much lately, more on technique in general. I've had a few very intense classes recently and I feel like I am making progress. I don't have a natural aptitude for aerial arts. I don't have a gymnastic or dance background; I'm not fluid in my movements, or generally talented for the trapeze. But I feel like I'm getting better.
Set C, where October is a roller-coaster
i) October started out wonderfully. We "celebrated" my two-year surgiversary -- the two-year anniversary of my shoulder surgery. Which I celebrate because of how far I have come. We had a lovely day, a pleasant long stroll and a fabulous dinner, then joined a friend who was celebrating her birthday at a local bar. Much laughter and raucous enjoyment was had.
ii) and the following day, our darling old gray cat got sick. I'd promised her (and ourselves) that she'd been through enough with her spinal degeneration that I wouldn't put her through another major treatment regime or maker her live in pain. She basically just went into a full-body shutdown over 24 hours; by the time we got to the vet, the decision was obvious. It still sucked. Still sucks. I miss that little gray ghost. Stupid darn cats, causing us to get attached.
iii) that was just the first weekend of October. The rest of the month has been a crazy set of bumper-cars. The parental worries. Jury duty. Getting caught in a downpour; seeing a rare rainbow in the city.
Monday, September 28, 2009
caught early
I have two or three posts in draft form.
Posts about mountains, and near-solitude.
About hiking in the snow.
About being prepared.
Or posts about jobs.
But this isn't any of those.
Tomorrow, my mother is having a precancerous lump removed from her remaining breast.
Twenty-two years ago, she had breast cancer. Had a radical mastectomy, including lymph node removal. In many ways, she's one of the very lucky ones -- they got it all, she didn't need chemo or radiation at the time. In other ways -- she still has lymphedema which restricts her movement and causes her discomfort.
But maybe that early breast cancer was a blessing in disguise.
The lump she's having removed tomorrow? Found on a routine mammogram, which she's religious about. Confirmed by ultrasound and needle biopsy; an MRI showed no other signs of anything ominous.
Caught early.
So early her oncologist doesn't think radiation is a good idea. A short recovery.
My mother's one of the lucky ones. A survivor. A benefit of good health care. Lucky to have insurance which covers it all well -- and covered the initial mammogram.
Life is short. Tomorrow, I'll be waiting for a phone call, and trying not to jump when the phone rings. And yet? I know we're all lucky, every one in my family. It could have been so different.
Please, get your checkups. Do your self exams. Luck is partly where we make it.
Posts about mountains, and near-solitude.
About hiking in the snow.
About being prepared.
Or posts about jobs.
But this isn't any of those.
Tomorrow, my mother is having a precancerous lump removed from her remaining breast.
Twenty-two years ago, she had breast cancer. Had a radical mastectomy, including lymph node removal. In many ways, she's one of the very lucky ones -- they got it all, she didn't need chemo or radiation at the time. In other ways -- she still has lymphedema which restricts her movement and causes her discomfort.
But maybe that early breast cancer was a blessing in disguise.
The lump she's having removed tomorrow? Found on a routine mammogram, which she's religious about. Confirmed by ultrasound and needle biopsy; an MRI showed no other signs of anything ominous.
Caught early.
So early her oncologist doesn't think radiation is a good idea. A short recovery.
My mother's one of the lucky ones. A survivor. A benefit of good health care. Lucky to have insurance which covers it all well -- and covered the initial mammogram.
Life is short. Tomorrow, I'll be waiting for a phone call, and trying not to jump when the phone rings. And yet? I know we're all lucky, every one in my family. It could have been so different.
Please, get your checkups. Do your self exams. Luck is partly where we make it.
Monday, August 17, 2009
ginga arts (shameless promotion)
Friends of mine in LA run a capoeira program. M. just sent me an email saying:
Dear Friends of Ginga Arts,
I am writing you guys to ask you to support Ginga Arts on the web by voting for us at: http://www.nikebackyourblock.com/ApplicantProfile.aspx?ApplicantId=387a6c72-d96d-4b0a-817a-c5bc6d6362af
The Nike Back your Block project is a great opportunity for Ginga Arts
to get funding! All you have to do is follow the link and put in your
e-mail address. Also, be sure to send this to all your friends as the
organizations who receive the most votes get funded.
So, please, support a great organization if you can!
Dear Friends of Ginga Arts,
I am writing you guys to ask you to support Ginga Arts on the web by voting for us at: http://www.nikebackyourblock.com/ApplicantProfile.aspx?ApplicantId=387a6c72-d96d-4b0a-817a-c5bc6d6362af
The Nike Back your Block project is a great opportunity for Ginga Arts
to get funding! All you have to do is follow the link and put in your
e-mail address. Also, be sure to send this to all your friends as the
organizations who receive the most votes get funded.
So, please, support a great organization if you can!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
six weeks of silence
Most of the bloggers I read have fallen into silence over the summer -- a few race reports, a few wonderful long posts of remembrance. A spurt of posting, and then a quiet spell. (There are exceptions, including one of my favorite runner's blog -- I wrote that as running blog, but she covers a much wider range than that.)
So perhaps I shouldn't feel sheepish at six weeks of silence. They've been busy weeks. Settling in to the new job -- sometimes it's packed with stuff to accomplish and sometimes I'm not at all sure what I'm supposed to be doing. But it's reasonable thus far. I don't know that it's where I want to be in 5 years, but that's then, not now.
And breathing trapeze. Not running enough, not nearly enough --twice in the month of July? Those were treasured runs, although labored -- and getting over the inertia to get out the door for them on my rare unscheduled evenings is perhaps the hardest part.
Three nights of trapeze a week is a lot, and it's hard to make the schedule work. I'm spending 8-10 hours a week in classes/training/working slowly on my act -- we've now choreographed the first 20-30 seconds of it. We keep trying different things; I think we managed to add one new move on my last session.
So it's been a busy six weeks or so -- we splurged in July with a trip to Teatro Zinzanni which really was a tremendous amount of fun. El Bandito the Magnificent volunteered for one of the segments (with a lot of vigorous prodding from his wife). The show was good; the highlights were definitely the dual trapeze act at the end, seeing my husband juggle a raw chicken, loaf of bread and a blob of margarine, and a pretty astounding hula hoop act.
And then we had a fabulous, extravagant anniversary dinner last week; the advantage of knowing a sous schef at an uber-fancy restaurant is that we got to say "just bring food" and have wonderful things appear in front of us. Spoiled. Absolutely Spoiled.
A new day job, trapeze, the rare run, and weekend hikes in the coastal hills (preparation for our nearly-yearly trip hiking in the Canadian Rockies)... to quote Calvin and Hobbes, "The days are just packed".
So perhaps I shouldn't feel sheepish at six weeks of silence. They've been busy weeks. Settling in to the new job -- sometimes it's packed with stuff to accomplish and sometimes I'm not at all sure what I'm supposed to be doing. But it's reasonable thus far. I don't know that it's where I want to be in 5 years, but that's then, not now.
And breathing trapeze. Not running enough, not nearly enough --twice in the month of July? Those were treasured runs, although labored -- and getting over the inertia to get out the door for them on my rare unscheduled evenings is perhaps the hardest part.
Three nights of trapeze a week is a lot, and it's hard to make the schedule work. I'm spending 8-10 hours a week in classes/training/working slowly on my act -- we've now choreographed the first 20-30 seconds of it. We keep trying different things; I think we managed to add one new move on my last session.
So it's been a busy six weeks or so -- we splurged in July with a trip to Teatro Zinzanni which really was a tremendous amount of fun. El Bandito the Magnificent volunteered for one of the segments (with a lot of vigorous prodding from his wife). The show was good; the highlights were definitely the dual trapeze act at the end, seeing my husband juggle a raw chicken, loaf of bread and a blob of margarine, and a pretty astounding hula hoop act.
And then we had a fabulous, extravagant anniversary dinner last week; the advantage of knowing a sous schef at an uber-fancy restaurant is that we got to say "just bring food" and have wonderful things appear in front of us. Spoiled. Absolutely Spoiled.
A new day job, trapeze, the rare run, and weekend hikes in the coastal hills (preparation for our nearly-yearly trip hiking in the Canadian Rockies)... to quote Calvin and Hobbes, "The days are just packed".
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
getting my act together
act: n, 1 : the doing of a thing...7 a: one of successive parts or performances (as in a variety show or circus) b: the performer or performers in such an act c: a performance or presentation identified with a particular individual or group d: the sum of a person's actions or effects that serve to create an impression or set an example
getting one's act together: Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently.
I ran last week. and this week. After a full four weeks not running, thanks to first a chest cold for my last week at the old job, followed by our mini-vacation (with some serious hiking; 600m of elevation gain in under 2.5km) and then starting a new job... Excuses, excuses.
and then, finally, I laced up my shoes and ran a few miles and suddenly... things settled in my brain. The buzz calmed down.
Starting a new job has been both enjoyable and overwhelming. I'm starting, after 3 weeks, to feel like I'm actually making sense of what I'm doing. There are parts of my job that are just plain sad. I haven't worked with patients in years, and seeing some of the things that can go wrong is depressing. But it also feels good to be potentially doing something clinically relevant.
But the biggest reason for the title... I've finally decided it's time to put some real time and energy into a trapeze act. Time, indeed, to get my act together. Stay timed. I won't be performing anytime soon, but video may be available shortly upon request. We'll see.
getting one's act together: Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently.
I ran last week. and this week. After a full four weeks not running, thanks to first a chest cold for my last week at the old job, followed by our mini-vacation (with some serious hiking; 600m of elevation gain in under 2.5km) and then starting a new job... Excuses, excuses.
and then, finally, I laced up my shoes and ran a few miles and suddenly... things settled in my brain. The buzz calmed down.
Starting a new job has been both enjoyable and overwhelming. I'm starting, after 3 weeks, to feel like I'm actually making sense of what I'm doing. There are parts of my job that are just plain sad. I haven't worked with patients in years, and seeing some of the things that can go wrong is depressing. But it also feels good to be potentially doing something clinically relevant.
But the biggest reason for the title... I've finally decided it's time to put some real time and energy into a trapeze act. Time, indeed, to get my act together. Stay timed. I won't be performing anytime soon, but video may be available shortly upon request. We'll see.
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