Do you ever look back at old pictures of yourself and think "Hey, I looked pretty good in that picture!" You may even think "Wow, I wish I were that thin again."
Now, at the time the picture was taken, were you thinking "Man, I look good today." or "I sure am happy with my weight right now."
Never in my entire life have I been content with my self - as I was. I remember one time in my life, going for a run, and feeling exhiliarated that my muscles felt strong and powerful. And yet, now I look back on some of those times and wish I had them back. I wish for the pain-free days before I tore so many ligaments in my knees. I wish for this. I wish for that...
In other words, I'm doing it every day. Every day, I think "What if?" What if I were richer/thinner/smarter/faster/whatever. And how long before I'm looking back on today and thinking "Boy, I wish I had those days back"?
I know I don't usually go quite so deep on these blogs, but I think it's time I started enjoying the life I'm living - right now - instead of waiting for that "better life" that's right around the corner, just as soon as I...
So, here we go - living in the moment, right now. Except in traffic. And then, I'm sticking to "what if..."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Another Wet Weekend
Once again, I had another great trip with the Washington Women Outdoors.
This time, we met in Leesylvania State Park for a kayaking trip down the Potomac. Not to be confused with the kayaking trip the SigO and I took down the potomac - - the trip from Hell -- unlike that trip, this trip was the perfect duration and energy level.
This time, we met in Leesylvania State Park for a kayaking trip down the Potomac. Not to be confused with the kayaking trip the SigO and I took down the potomac - - the trip from Hell -- unlike that trip, this trip was the perfect duration and energy level.
The name of the trip is "Paddle to Lunch" and I could already see the lunch restauarant from the put-in and take-out point, so I knew it wasn't going to be a killer day. We headed down-stream, away from the restaurant, but towards some beautiful marsh lands. 
Before we had even been in the boats five minutes, a heron swooped down out of the sky and snagged a fish out of the middle of the river. A very rare sight as heron's usually fish in the shallows. That was just the beginning of a day of "new sights". Shortly after we were in the marshes, I saw my first-ever osprey. She was one unhappy lady since there were a few fishers camped out too close to her nest. She circled almost continually overhead, squawking at those pesky fishermen and all these strange women in their kayaks. 
Before we had even been in the boats five minutes, a heron swooped down out of the sky and snagged a fish out of the middle of the river. A very rare sight as heron's usually fish in the shallows. That was just the beginning of a day of "new sights". Shortly after we were in the marshes, I saw my first-ever osprey. She was one unhappy lady since there were a few fishers camped out too close to her nest. She circled almost continually overhead, squawking at those pesky fishermen and all these strange women in their kayaks. We rowed past a great deal of this plant - that I've already forgotten the name of - spatter - something or other. It blooms this little yellow ball that never - in its entire life - opens up. Kind of like some of the men I dated prior to meeting the SigO.
We rowed under this tree full of poison ivy - where I reinforced my belief that I'm not sensitive to it, since I never got so much as a single hive. Hopefully, neither did anyone else.
We dead-ended here, 
where the water got too shallow and so we turned back the way we came, ending at Tims Rivershore Crabshack and Restaurant - a place I've frequented by car, but this was my first time arriving by boat. We got quite a lot of stares as 15 women piled out of kayaks and started placing orders for fried pickles (another first for me - not as weird as I had expected).
where the water got too shallow and so we turned back the way we came, ending at Tims Rivershore Crabshack and Restaurant - a place I've frequented by car, but this was my first time arriving by boat. We got quite a lot of stares as 15 women piled out of kayaks and started placing orders for fried pickles (another first for me - not as weird as I had expected).It was quite a nice day, which I concluded with a manicure/pedicure and some knitting - that I had to completely rip out since I started it the night before - while drinking - too much! I have to admit, cutting back on my drinking not only helps me in the pocketbook, and with the weight-loss, but it really helps reduce the amount of tinking/frogging I have to do.
You would think that would make for a great weekend, and really - I'm not complaining - much. It would have been a stellar weekend had the SigO and I been able to go for our bike ride as planned - instead of spending the day fighting with an overflowing toilet, only to throw in the towel (a painful metaphor - as you'll see) and pay a plumber $850 to come out and auger the main-line for us - to discover a wad of paper-towels clogging things up. Since we don't use papertowels in the bathroom, I think it's time we had a talk with our cleaning service. *sigh* Seems like you can never get ahead. I'm ready to sell it all and drive away, but that conversation has to wait until Taosday.
Until then...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
First Thirsty Thursday
OK, as predicted, I'm already tired of "Therapy Thursday" and have decided Thursdays will be Thirsty Thursday. On this topic, I can be thirsty for anything.
For example, this week, I'm thirsty for good stories.
In the Yarn Harlot's daily calendar entry today, she tells the story told to her by a Malaysian friend. In this story, all the snakes in the Garden of Eden were originally plain old white until Eve took up her needles and kit the pattern onto them from the tail, right up to the head.
Eve: "Wouldn't you love to give it a try! It's very relaxing, and it gives you such a sense of fulfillment to have made something so beautiful!"
Adam: "Are you crazy? Knitting isn't macho! What's for dinner tonight anyway? Not more manna, I hope!"
Eve: "Dinner is whatever you go and pick off a tree! Don't bother me, I'm knitting."
And they lived happily ever after.
Or, at least the snakes did.
For example, this week, I'm thirsty for good stories.
In the Yarn Harlot's daily calendar entry today, she tells the story told to her by a Malaysian friend. In this story, all the snakes in the Garden of Eden were originally plain old white until Eve took up her needles and kit the pattern onto them from the tail, right up to the head.
I think this is a great story. I mean, you can see it now, right?
Eve: "Adam, look at this great pattern! Don't you think this will look much nicer than plain old white?"
Adam, never looking up from his newspaper titled "Heaven's Daily News": "Mmm hmmm. Yes dear. Very nice."Eve: "Wouldn't you love to give it a try! It's very relaxing, and it gives you such a sense of fulfillment to have made something so beautiful!"
Adam: "Are you crazy? Knitting isn't macho! What's for dinner tonight anyway? Not more manna, I hope!"
Eve: "Dinner is whatever you go and pick off a tree! Don't bother me, I'm knitting."
And they lived happily ever after.
Or, at least the snakes did.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wicked Wednesday
Top 5 Things I'd do today if I could get away with it:
5. Drive a Bulldozer down the highway and push everyone out of my way
4. Use my laptop as a frisbee
3. Replace the water in my water bottle with vodka - and THEN drive the bulldozer down the highway - woo hoo!
2. Replace the water in the office water cooler with vodka - and then invite the company CEO over for a open bitch session.
1. Rob a bank and retire from the working life so that #'s 2-5 are unnecessary
5. Drive a Bulldozer down the highway and push everyone out of my way
4. Use my laptop as a frisbee
3. Replace the water in my water bottle with vodka - and THEN drive the bulldozer down the highway - woo hoo!
2. Replace the water in the office water cooler with vodka - and then invite the company CEO over for a open bitch session.
1. Rob a bank and retire from the working life so that #'s 2-5 are unnecessary
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
First Taosday
I thought it might be interesting to discuss "Going with the Flow" when it comes to DC traffic. 
This image was captured live from a traffic camera at 2PM in the DC metro area. 2 PM. NOT rush hour. You'll note it's somewhat heavy headed North, but almost stopped headed South. Again, this is NOT rush hour - although many who live in this area would claim there's really no such thing around here since traffic stinks all the time. But, that's not really my point today.
Here's the thing.
It's definitely less stressful to apply some taoist thinking to sitting in traffic and just "go with the flow".
No need to constantly shift lanes. It sux, no matter which lane you're in.
No need to try to get around the moron driving slowly in the fast lane. You'll only get stuck behind some other moron who can't read the sign that says Slower Traffic Keep Right. Yes, I know, all the traffic is slow, so why bother, but trust me, a great deal of our traffic problems around here come from people cruising in the passing lane with no regards for the fact that they're NOT PASSING ANYONE.
So, why stress over it, right? Just go with the flow. Take it easy. You'll get there when you get there.
And there is some seriously good advice in all that.
Here's my only problem.
If I do that, doesn't that just make me another head in the herd of cattle mooing along down the interstate?
What bothers me more?
Being stressed?
or
Being Cattle?
This image was captured live from a traffic camera at 2PM in the DC metro area. 2 PM. NOT rush hour. You'll note it's somewhat heavy headed North, but almost stopped headed South. Again, this is NOT rush hour - although many who live in this area would claim there's really no such thing around here since traffic stinks all the time. But, that's not really my point today.Here's the thing.
It's definitely less stressful to apply some taoist thinking to sitting in traffic and just "go with the flow".
No need to constantly shift lanes. It sux, no matter which lane you're in.
No need to try to get around the moron driving slowly in the fast lane. You'll only get stuck behind some other moron who can't read the sign that says Slower Traffic Keep Right. Yes, I know, all the traffic is slow, so why bother, but trust me, a great deal of our traffic problems around here come from people cruising in the passing lane with no regards for the fact that they're NOT PASSING ANYONE.
So, why stress over it, right? Just go with the flow. Take it easy. You'll get there when you get there.
And there is some seriously good advice in all that.
Here's my only problem.
If I do that, doesn't that just make me another head in the herd of cattle mooing along down the interstate?
What bothers me more?
Being stressed?
or
Being Cattle?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Therapy Thursday - Acupuncture
In an attempt to liven up my blog - and post more consistently, I've decided to have some fun with alliteration.
For now, that means the following:
Tuesday = Taosday
Wednesday = Wicked Wednesday
Thursday = Therapy Thursday
When I get sick of these alliterations, I'll switch to something else.
So, for my inaugural event, today we'll talk about Acupuncture.
According to Wikipedia, Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine filiform needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes.
According to my experience, it's a pretty vague discipline. When I went to an acupuncture clinic to see if it would help me lose weight, I asked the practitioner how it would work. Her answer was something along the lines of "Concentrating on your body will bring you more awareness of yourself and help in your weight loss efforts."
I don't need acupuncture to help me be more aware of my body as it relates to weight-loss. If that's all there is to it, I think we should all just eat in front of a mirror. Puts me off my feed every time!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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