Eating Cookie Dough

No matter how hard we try to relieve stress, sometimes we've got to break out the big guns:

Cookie Dough.

Sans chocolate chips, because we are out, which is ok, because I'm not a big chocolate fan.

But I adore vanilla, and added an extra teaspoon.  Always double your vanilla!

Anywise.

This morning was very cold (some snow on the ground), but so beautiful!

Thumb Butte, steep side.

Ian and I had agreed I'd take a head start, seeing as he wanted to bust this out fast.  My twenty minute lead was reduced to two minutes when he arrived early; he quickly caught up and charged on ahead.

I don't mind that anymore.

The mountain lions will eat him first.

We met up a few times on the climb; my out of shape lungs dared me to conjure the Air Monster.  Surprisingly, I felt the cruise control kick in two switchbacks from the top, and I made my way to the reward bench to sit by my partner.

The view is the reward.  That's Granite Mtn. in the distance.  Yes, this photo is Ian's.

The trip down I kept up, jogging and skipping to keep up the pace.  We ended our hike 45 minutes after it began; that's my personal best.  Elated, I high-fived Ian and agreed to the Constellation next week.  The hikers high in full throttle, I headed home.

To a house in need of love and repair...not just physical, but mentally and spiritually as well.

I've desperately needed these days off-not just for the hiking but to decluttering my life.  I worked on my resume for several hours, and cleaned out my desk in an attempt to find an envelope.

Eek!  I need to find an envelope!

I started but didn't complete several projects, and left to pick up my youngest for a hair appointment.

Almost fourteen!

Four hours later, we are home, both with newly cut and highlighted hair.

Hence, the cookie dough.

A long day, but no partner to greet me at the door.  No arms to hold me as I climb into bed.  Not that I had those when I had a partner...

Cookie dough.  Sometimes, the best stress buster.

Or a message that pops up unexpectedly as you write a blog.  Those can de-stress, too.  Especially when it's been awhile and you've missed them.

I'm planning on hiking again tomorrow.  Really.  And I'll probably be singing along to Johnny Cash, too.

http://youtu.be/n5HRSmLlaiA

Hurtling Forward

Well, that was unexpected.

My last selfie at the museum, taken during my lunch break, I assure you!

Less than 24 hrs after being out of a job, we lose the sale on our house.

Did I mention I also got called for jury duty?  In Phoenix?  Over 100 miles away?

My response to it all?

On top of the world; hiking right away!

I was set free.

I have learned an important self truth:  I work best when I set the schedule.

My choice, my goals, my actions all result in my very best when I set the timeline.

So now it's go time.  I have but five weeks to make this work-figuring out not only what I want, but how to achieve it, and achieve it quickly.

Luckily, I live here.

This was my second hike in three days after my joblessness.

Of course the second hike I had my butt handed to me as I was hiking with Ian, but I digress.

Stress.  My face has the mark of it very visible on it; a vicious cold sore which erupted the morning I was let go.  I haven't been hiking in weeks, the sickness which had consumed the past six weeks had consumed what little energy I had left.  Anger over the mishandling of our home sale added to it; frustrations at work about did me in.  

Then this.

Instead of fear, I felt freedom.

"Thumb Butte Wednesday morning?" Ian had asked at the end of our Flume hike. I looked at him surprised-I forgot I didn't have to work.  He responded with a laugh.  "Welcome back to your old life!"

Indeed.

Only this time, I'll do it right.

Fitness Quest:  Keeping it real.

*full disclosure-the Flume pictures are Ian's.  I have a predilection for picking hiking partners who are much better photographers than myself!!

Reflections

It's been a year since I began the quest.

Celebration?!  Not with my face looking so round (hence you get a picture of my leg!)

It's Spring Break, I'm on a cruise ship anchored off Catalina Island and all is not quite well.

I'm sick, still.  My ear is throbbing and my throat is sore, my kids have been sick since we left and I cried this morning.

We have an offer on the house, you see.

So this is the end.

Or a new beginning.

Goals?  What goals?!

New starts, new beginnings...I trained in these for twelve years.  Few succeed.  Lately I feel every dream, every hope slipping away.  At least in the holding pattern it didn't seem to matter...but now it does.

I am reminded that the only "what if" I can ever change lays in front of me right now...

What if I take year off and travel?

What if I quit my job and buy an RV?

What if I do what my heart says and not my head?

There's no bail out in the end.

No safety net.

Exactly as I like it:

Ahhhhh!  What I need!!!

Who wants to come with me??