Weekend Musings

It's been a rather uneventful weekend, which has been rather enjoyable. Even though the weekend turned out to be quite different than I had originally planned, I feel good about my decision, but am still working on cultivating a true sense of peace about everything.

I saw a few movies this weekend, beginning with The Ten on Friday with some friends at the Nick. It was hilarious, disturbing and absolutely obscene at times, but overall, I enjoyed it. The meal afterwards at Moe's Grapevine was absolutely wonderful! The cheese torte that Magister had was truly fantastic. I've caught myself daydreaming about that torte several times since Friday night.

Saturday I watched the USC vs. Mississippi State game with some friends, took a nap and then went to dinner and a movie with Z. We saw The Kingdom, which I liked a lot. I especially liked the ending because it was slightly disturbing yet prophetic in a way. I recommend the film.

Today, I went to Mass and then ran about 2 miles. The weather was so absolutely beautiful, it would have been sinful to stay inside. After the run, I decided to head down to the "evil empire" of Starbucks and enjoy an Iced Green Tea and read some of Pope Benedict's The Apostles. I am enjoying it immensely and have found it helpful on multiple levels. I like the way he can bring these individuals to life and make them so relevant in modern day to day life.

Sometimes I feel like one of the apostles before Jesus called them to follow him; just kind of going through life, wandering around, aimlessly awaiting something yet not fully knowing what that thing is. They were happy in their lives, but I think they felt incomplete. That's why they all so eagerly dropped their nets, their jobs, their families to follow Jesus because they knew he was the fulfillment they sought. Through my prayers, I will seek understanding of this confusing time and ask for guidance out of this muck. Enthusiastically, reverently, steadfastly I will pray for Jesus to come and call me to where I am supposed to be. I also pray to have the ears to hear him and the courage to go where he leads me.

Family Fun

Two aunts and a cousin came to visit yesterday. We had a great time looking at India pictures, walking around (in the incredible heat) at the Greek Festival, and indulging in some Marble Slab. It was a wonderful day, talking and reconnecting with some of the most important people in my life, and I hope it isn't so long before I see them again.

Once

Since last Saturday, I have been obsessed with listening to the soundtrack to the Irish musical Once. Here's one of my favorite songs, The Hill.

Walking up the hill tonight and you have closed your eyes

I wish I didn't have to make

all those mistakes and be wise

Please try to be patient and know that I'm still learning

I'm sorry that you have to see the strength inside me burning

Where are you my angel now

don't you see me crying?

And I know that you can't do it all

but you can't say I'm not trying

I'm on my knees in front of him

but he doesn't seem to see me

But all his troubles on his mind

he's looking right through me

And I'm letting myself down beside this fire in you

And I wish that you could see that half my troubles too
Looking at you sleeping

I'm with the man I love

I'm sitting here weeping

while the hours pass so slow

And I know that in the morning I'll have to let you go

And you'll be just a man once I used to know

And for these past few days someone I don't recognise

This isn't all my fault

when will you realise
Looking at you leaving,

I'm looking for a sign.

Moussaka

Tonight at my wonderful Greek cooking class, we made the extravagant dish, Moussaka. It is layers of potato and eggplant, covered in a thick meat sauce with a wonderfully sinful milky/cheesy concoction poured right on top. It bakes in the oven and the top layer turns into a mashed potato-ey type consistency that is just delicious...arteries clogging tonight for sure.

It feels good to not be completely helpless in the kitchen anymore. Let the record show that I have made myself dinner the past 4 nights! To most, that is normal life. To me, that is something to be rather proud of. I'm perfecting my skills for an upcoming trip in just 9 days, where I have been invited to make dinner one evening. It will be fun to make dinner for two.

Training Cont'd

It's been awhile since I've written about my training progress. Yesterday morning, Z and I ran 2 miles in about 20 minutes. It was easier for me this time, however, the last little hill kills me.

This morning, I was back up and running because I feel like I am falling behind in the training. I did 3 miles this morning, taking a different route than my previous 3-mile trek. I liked going into Five Points and beyond, but coming UP Pickens St. at the end just about did me in. This morning I stuck around downtown and the Main Street, Hampton, Pickens area...much better. Although right after mile 2, there was a pretty steep incline on Gregg Street. Cursing the name of Gregg (HA) I did manage to make it up without too much difficulty.

Tomorrow I will rest and then Friday is up to 4 miles! I never thought I would be the kind of person who would willingly run 3 or 4 or 5 miles. But it has been a lot of fun so far and I am really excited about the actual race!

Reliving Memories

Some of my favorite relatives are coming to visit this weekend, and in preparation for their visit, I decided to look through my India pictures again and weed a few out here and there.

It was interesting looking at the photos again. I've not looked at them since Dr. Beau was here in August. A lot happened to me there and it's not as though I had forgotten that, but seeing the pictures and imagining myself again in those places brought back floods of memories and thoughts. I went through some interesting times emotionally, mentally and spiritually that changed me in ways most will never be able to see. What's important is that I see the changes, I know how I have been affected.

Seeing all those places again made me so happy and so grateful that I had the opportunity to fulfill one of my life's dreams. So few of us actually get to do what we dream to do. I am so grateful to all the people who helped my trip become a reality with their support, love, ideas, advice, and words of encouragement. My words fall short of expressing what I really feel and owe to all of my friends.

Through some of the silence I gained strength and courage to look deep inside my soul and determine what it is I truly want in this life, who I really want to be. I've been a wandering soul for quite some time, and I honestly believe India helped guide me to a path I probably wouldn't have discovered on my own had I been in SC.

"Love is comprised of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."

--Aristotle

Buckeye Battle

Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Cleveland and face the Browns. GO BENGALS!

Brooke

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to Kentucky last weekend for Brooke's bachelorette party. Here she is, the beautiful Bride-To-Be!

A Challenge

Tomorrow morning.

7 a.m.

3 miles.

GOD BE WITH ME!

One Month...yesterday

One month ago (yesterday) was my first date with the new beau (I need to come up with a better name for him). Although it's only been one month, it seems so much longer--in a very good way. I suppose the whole being-friends-first for over 2 years helps make it seem like we've been a couple longer.

Everything is going so well; I am extremely grateful for the "awakening" I had, and even more grateful that he hadn't yet moved on. How different, and less fulfilled, my life would be right now.

Only 15 days until I will see him again! I am so excited to visit Ohio and spend some time together. It will be lovely.

S.O.S.

I had dinner with a good friend tonight who was my last hope. Okay, I guess I should back up a bit first...

I am a bridesmaid in a wedding in just about 5 weeks in Lexington, KY for one of my oldest friends. Last fall, I went to a bridal shop to be measured for the dress she was having made just for me to wear. I sent Brooke the measurements and waited patiently for my dress to arrive. Finally, the dress arrived at my door not too long ago. However...the damn thing is way too big. I don't know if they ignored the measurements I gave or what, but it's about 6 sizes too big. It's a strapless dress that won't stay up, the bottom drags the floor and it's just awful! Knowing that I need to have the dress radically altered, I called the above mentioned friend, Pam, who I thought could alter the dress in a jiffy. Ya...not so much. She doesn't sew. So I am up the creek.

So...if anyone knows someone who is quite good with alterations, I would greatly appreciate any help!!

Monday

So begins another week. Unfortunately I did not get up and run this morning, as scheduled, but I will make up for it this afternoon with an hour of cardio and then a longer run tomorrow morning.

Sunday was a good day: Mass, lunch with friends, home to clean and restore some sort of order to the chaos which is my apartment. I also made some applesauce yesterday which turned out to be AWESOME! I used the fresh, local apples we picked up in Hendersonville Saturday and added just a touch of cinnamon. In the past, I've added sugar to sweeten it up a bit, but this year, I decided to leave it out. I used all Rome apples and they are perfect for making applesauce because they are tart yet slightly sweet. The sweetness really came out of them and now I have a yummy, relatively healthy snack for the next few days. So let's see...now I can make applesauce, a few Greek appetizers, stir-fry, Great Grandma's Baked Spaghetti--LOOK OUT! :) I wonder if Mrs. Dell thinks I am ready to buy one of those fancy kitchen gadgets from Sur La Table yet?!

Tonight I am planning to work out with FT and then I am off to Bible Study. Afterwards, I will be racing back to my apartment to watch the second half of the Cincinnati vs. Baltimore game! I am so disappointed that there is a double-header tonight, causing the aforementioned game to start at 7:00 p.m. rather than the normal 9:00 p.m. UGH! Oh well. As long as I get to see some of it, I will be happy. I'll be even happier if (when) the Bengals win! WHO DEY!!

GO COCKS!

Gamecocks Upset No. 11 Georgia

Mediterranean Cooking:

Tonight is my first Mediterranean Cooking for Life class. I'm really excited and a tad bit nervous. It feels like the first day of school--new teacher, new classmates, new totally foreign environment. And for me, a kitchen is the most foreign environment I have ever taken a class in. Sure, I managed my way through Home Economics in middle school, but that was pretty easy stuff. Tonight it's a whole new ball game.

Most people simply laugh when I tell them I am branching out and attempting these cooking classes. I don't blame them--with my cooking history, the next few weeks are bound to be entertaining and interesting. My mom told me today "not to blow anything up." Thanks for the confidence Mother! :-)

I've wanted to do new things and try new things, so this is a good place to start. Who knows, I might actually learn how to do a thing or two and be quite good at it. There's also the possibility of needing to know how to do some of this stuff in the not-so-far-off future. So, here I go with an open mind and an open oven mitt!

Day Two's Consequences

Today I woke up in serious pain. I need to be lifted up by a crane and dropped into a large vat of Aspercream. Everything from my ankles to my ribs is sore. Sore to the point of wanting to jump off my front porch rather than walk down the 18 stairs to get to the sidewalk.

The late afternoon game of racquetball with a member of the clergy yesterday didn't help either. I should have just said NO to the game of racquetball--but when one has the desire to kick some one's butt, it's hard to say no. I paid for that yesterday (since he beat the pants off me), and then of course, today, I cannot move without aches and pains.

Oy! I feel old!

Day Two

Woke up early this morning excited about heading out for my first run. According to my plan, I was to run 2 miles this morning. I managed to not only survive the run, I actually made it much farther than I thought without stopping. I only walked toward the end for about a block and a half before picking it back up. I was quite happy with that. My time was much better than I thought it would be. Came home, stretched a bit, now off to the doc.

This afternoon, I might be watching some Disney...

Training...Day One

According to my individualized training program for the next 8 weeks, today was designated as a "Rest or Cross-Training Day." I decided that my usual procrastinator's mentality would not benefit me in the long run, so I chose to ride my bike for a bit this morning.

I haven't ridden my bike in a long time due to the wonderful SC heat, so being back on was a great feeling. Unfortunately my iPod (RIP) was drowned in India, leaving me to my thoughts on the ride this morning. That's not a bad thing, I actually enjoy pedaling and seeing where my mind takes me.

I rode approximately 10 miles this morning and as I came back UP my hill and finally stopped at the foot of my staircase, I didn't know whether I would pass out or throw up. :) It's been a long time since I've pushed myself in that way. After those fleeting moments of hanging in the balance between passing out or vomiting passed, I felt great! But lesson learned: I definitely need more exercise!

Runnin' a Race

Inspiration struck me yesterday as I finished a meal with some friends after Mass. Dogwood carried a pamphlet out of the restaurant advertising some sort of 12K run that is to take place in a few weeks. Wanting to get back into shape and having never done anything like it before, I thought that running in some sort of "marathon" would be fun. I know myself well enough to know that going from 0 to 12K in two weeks is just NOT going happen. However, Dogwood suggested the Governor's Cup Road Race which takes place at the end of October.
I came home after a terrible movie at the Nick (sorry again!) and researched the road race a bit. They have a half-marathon, 8K run, or a 4 mile walk. The half-marathon is OUT. The 4 mile walk would be too easy. So I decided to start training for the 8K.
Now, I know to some running an 8K is as easy for them as it is for me to tumble across the front yard. However, for me, it is going to be quite a challenge. Luckily I have convinced five very wonderful friends to do this along with me. Their participation will motivate me to get off my butt and do some training so as not to look like a fool.
I was reading a little bit online about training for half-marathons and the like, and one of the questions was "what's your motivation?" Why am I really doing this? I thought about it and haven't come up with anything too good, really. I think it's a matter of doing something I've never done before. India changed my perspective on many aspects of my life, one of them being new things. I've always been rather hesitant to try new things for fear of failure. Even though many people have told me over and over again that they won't think any less of me if I fail, and that it's okay to fall short sometimes, I never believed the truth in that. I've since learned that asking for help, trying something new and taking the chance to fail is actually the brave thing to do.
I don't plan to fail at the 8K race, but even if I do--that's okay. I want to enjoy the moments with my friends and embrace this new challenge with an open heart and an open mind.