Life Had Other Plans

Sometimes it doesn't matter how well things are going or how organized you are, life will find a way to intervene. This week that took the form of getting sick. It pretty much derailed everything I had planned from Wednesday night until now. I've missed work, rehearsals, and all the wonderful running and workouts I had so carefully planned a week ago. That's just how life goes, you roll with it, let it knock you out, and then get up off the ground, dust yourself off, and come back for more.

I'm feeling much better now ("I'm not dead yet." - Monty Python is funny) and actually managed to make it out of the house for the first time since Wednesday. Yep, just in time for the beautiful weather to turn and the downpours to start up again. Thanks to everyone who checked in on me and offered to bring me food, medicine, and other stuff. Y'all rock. It's great to know your friends don't just hang around for the good times.

As long as there are no more sickly set-backs, I am planning on heading back to work tomorrow, although I'll be taking it really easy for the next couple of days. Probably won't start up the workout schedule again until mid-week, but I'll take that day by day. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. I feel like I've been off the grid forever. Y'all are still out there right?

"There are some who only employ words for the purposes of disguising their thoughts." - Voltaire

Novembus the 5th

I'm sick. I hate being sick. Luckily it doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it tends to be bad. Kinda like my body is intentionally storing up all the germs and viruses to unleash at once in a torrent of unpleasantness. Even worse, I am a complete and total baby when I am sick.

Whatever this is started yesterday right after lunch and has progressively (even aggressively) gotten worse. Fever, chills, sore throat, head fuzziness, and major body aches. At this point, I'm pretty sure it's just a bad cold. Fair warning if you were around me at the beginning of the week - you could be next. Being the baby I am when sick, I have now missed lots of work, 1 rehearsal, and 2 scheduled workouts. This is not acceptable. Novembus was going so well, and then this. Why . . . why?

As you can infer from this post, however, I am finally feeling well enough to sit up for an extended period at my computer. Probably have to stay home from work again tomorrow, but maybe that will be the extent. If not, it will be an unpleasant weekend. (FYI: Staying home from work is not as cool as it sounds, not when considering the work piling up. So much for catching up in November.)

On the bright side (because there always, always is one - gotta believe) Katie and I made the paper this morning. If you live in Austin and get the Statesman check out page D7. Yep, those hotties staring back out at you are Katie and I. This is the second time I've made the local social columnist's blog AND printed column. Not sure why, but I'll take it. I guess I should give Hank all the credit. I attended both events at his invitation; maybe I should enlist him as my social director.

(Note: The title of this post is a reference from the play I'm currently rehearsing, Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor. I was planning to say, if you want some clarity to the title come see the play. On further reflection however, I realized that this reference is an example of some of the play's more random humor, and seeing it in context won't help it make sense. It will make it funny however. Come check it out: November 19 - December 20 at the City Theatre.)

Running on Schedule

So far this week I've been able to stick perfectly to the schedule I set for myself on Sunday. Met the gang for a faster than expected 8 mile easy run on Monday, and actually started feeling in the groove again. Tuesday was an hour at the gym before work, that also felt good, although I have a nagging pull-pain in my right tricep that stings when I have to reach behind my back or neck.

This morning was another easy 8 miles with the gang. I gave Peck a hard time about the fast pace earlier in the week in an attempt to slow him down some today. Unfortunately we were joined by two speedsters that kept the tempo up again. The good news is I felt better than on Monday, so it looks like things are progressing nicely. I also got to talk to Ken a little more about the trail program he and Jason are coaching for next year's Leadville races. Sounds like they have a small but dedicated group, and after talking with him I am a couple steps closer to joining them. Finding it a little difficult to comprehend 6 hour runs, but we'll see . . .

Now that the hard part of the week is over, I should have no problem finishing out the week strong and moving into next week at the next level (whatever that might be). Beginning of the week is the hardest for workouts right now because I have rehearsals for the play Monday - Wednesday nights, so I have to get all my workouts in before work. Next week we add a fourth day of rehearsal and the week after that is a full week with opening night on Thursday the 19th. After that the end of the week will be the hardest with performances Thursday - Sunday night. If I can nail a regular workout schedule for the next two weeks, I'm hoping that momentum can carry me through Christmas when the play ends and I'll be able to get back to a normal routine.

The running is going smoothly enough that I'm planning on buying some trail shoes this weekend (my old ones are totally shot) and will try to get in at least one run a week off-road. Hopefully it will be as much fun as I remember it and not simply a case of absence making the heart grow fonder.

Happy Running~

Cutting Edge Modernity

I'm not exactly a trendsetter. I don't buy up all the new gadgets as soon as they're released, and I don't salivate over the idea of vastly improved technologies (how much more convenient can life become, really?). In fact my behavior is quite the opposite. I wait for reviews, find out what's working and what people are liking, research, research, research, test-drive (if possible) and only when absolutely necessary take the leap to purchase.

As some of you know, I've been having major problems with my computer. It's a Mac Powerbook laptop I've had for about 5 years and I love it. Compact, streamlined, and packed with more power and storage space than I thought I'd ever need. Unfortunately, I have occasionally been less than careful with it and as a result it has developed some debilitating screen problems. Basically the screen cuts in and out at random. I had it checked out and it can be fixed, but for much more than it seemed reasonable to spend to make a 5 year-old computer workable again.

So I tentatively ventured into the high-tech world to purchase a new computer. In the spirit of total disclosure this process began earlier this summer. I looked at all kinds of computers, decided fairly quickly that I wanted to settled on another Mac, and begun the research process of what was available. And much like my car buying experience from earlier this year, I discovered that computers have changed alot in the last 5 years.

Finally, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth (and probably over an hour of simply standing in the store staring at the computers - FYI, they start to stare back after 10 minutes) I decided to change back over to a desktop. The decision was easy when I realized that in 5 years I could count on one hand the number of times the computer had left my house. I'd get a better screen and more powerful computer for less money. Score! So I focused on the iMacs. They were very cool with the computer all built into the screen, but I couldn't decide which size was right, the 20'' or the 24''. It was maddening trying to picture the darn thing on my desk at home.

So, as is my standard M.O., I put the decision off. And as luck would have it that was exactly the correct thing to do. Miraculously, the next week Apple released the new line of iMacs. Bigger, more powerful, and even more streamlined. I was able to get twice as powerful a computer for hundreds of dollars less, plus the new machines come with a wireless keyboard and mouse. I got the computer last weekend and have been loving it ever since. Until I had something new, I hadn't realized how much my old machine had slowed down. It's so much less stressful to have a reliable machine. Here's a picture of the new beauty. If you're in the market for a computer I highly recommend you check these puppies out.