The Requested Update

I am confident you have not missed my musings nearly as much as I have missed writing. Life has been a whirlwind of mostly good events lately. This is an update on the day-to-day. I cannot promise it will be interesting… but this is what is going on.

The days start early, 5:00 am early, with a workout. I have my eyes set on a June half-marathon. My training is in the midst of finding its rhythm. I used to have time for lifting and running and now it seems I must chose. Poor me!  I refuse to let up on breakfast, so I then take the time to sit and eat a hearty breakfast. The vegan diet is being repeatedly slammed as oatmeal (with milk) and greek yogurt are the current go-to.

Now that I am fully awake, I shower before making way to my office cube along the clogged roads of D.C. suburbia. I often pause to appreciate a cool bird or the risen sun—these bits of nature might be the extent of what I see that day. In my cube I perform standard work-y tasks until I am released of duties for the day. When I am busy, I love it. When I have nothing to do, I absolutely hate it. As I travel home I dream of the endless dinner combinations I might appease my appetite with that night. I usually settle for the quickest combination… unless I prep my mom in advance with a dinner request. Tonight is a new favorite eggplant dish from Mark Bittman; I am already salivating. Stomach satisfied, my brain and body toggle back-and-forth (over the entertainment list) until one wins out. My body wants to sit and rest, but my brain will not allow it—that seems ridiculous after sitting for eight hours. Plus, I am not much for television, since Dance Moms, like the best show ever, has ended for the season. And activities like walking Louis, which used to be enjoyable, now seem more like chores. I usually end up doing dishes, packing lunch for the next day, and prepping my clothes. I am super fun these days, you see?

To really spice life up, I pass the time with BBC Africa, This American Life, or NPR: Fresh Air podcasts, day dream about my next vacation, perform yoga in heat intensified atmospheres, or hurriedly squeezing in a phone call. At 8:00 pm I am ready to crash… but I resist the urge to climb into bed until the clock strikes nine, when I am joyously hop in bed—knowing the day has ceased—with my book. Right now, Star Island by Carl Hiaasen is the book of choice. This book will be finished by Wednesday because Seriously… I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres is in the mail(!!!). There is even more to be excited about here because A. J. Jacobs just released his newest book, Drop Dead Healthy. Once I convince Pops he needs this book to complete ourcollection, it too will be in the mail.

The weekends are over before I remember they started. I spend my time walking around the nature preserve near my house (where I am sure to pick up Lyme disease), running errands, having (or sleeping through) movie nights with neighbors, taking Louis to the dog park, making extensive Sunday breakfasts while sipping chai tea lattes, kickboxing at the local gym, lunching with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, anticipating out of town visitors, and working on my newest project—refinishing a table. I have a true appreciation for the weekends now that they span only 48 hours. There you have it, life is good.