JustRunJustLiveJustBe

My sister and little nephew’s visit is just a few weeks away.

Right now though, they are about two hours inland and bracing for a bit of a storm. Realistically, they are far enough away from the coast to avoid serious hurricane weather. Not so realistically, I’m a little freaked out. Not so much for the hurricane but for the simple fact that my little sister and her baby are thousands of miles away and in the vicinity of a natural disaster.

The photo is one I took through the windshield during our visit to the shore in May.

Tomorrow, I’m getting up very early to go to Vancouver. Via Seattle. To visit my BFF. It will be swell. I will be sure to wave hello to Ginger, Sizzle, and, I think, Michelle as I head North on I-5. I’m such a sucker for a good, border-crossing road trip. Well, the comp airline ticket and the discount rental car also helped.

Also, there is news. BIG news, in fact. No, I’m not dating and in love with the doctor. In spite of how many times I’ve heard the phrase “wow, you can’t make it work? Forgodsakeheisadoctor” (yes, all one word because that’s how people say it. As if attraction and chemistry are automatic when someone, forgodsake, is a doctor).

The actual big news is that I have been running this week. Not a huge amount of running but a gradual build back up to what might be considered mileage. The doctor gave me the “OK as long as you have no pain” speech and guess what? I HAVE NO PAIN! It’s great, it really is. The final diagnosis was (and I might butcher this) a subcondral patellar contusion. Or, for us lay people who just can’t seem to have chemistry with doctors so they’re around to instruct you on the proper use of medical terms, a bruise on the underside of my kneecap. Odd, right? I know, only me. Anyway, a bruise on the bone doesn’t happen all that easily. My orthopedic couldn’t believe that I hadn’t fallen or run into something or, that I hadn’t fallen or run into something and just didn’t remember. I told him that yes, it’s true I like margaritas but I haven’t fallen or run into something and not remembered it ever. Well, unless you count the drummer in college and I think that was more a case of mentally blocking it out than actually not remembering. But back to it, as bruises go, you know, it’s just a matter of time and they’re better. Well, we are on the upswing and let me tell you, I couldn’t be happier.

There is just nothing better. Well, except for vacation and long weekends. Both of which I’m about to embark on very soon. Right now I’m off to get a pedicure with another BFF (turns out, you can have more than one- yay!).

By the way, I’ve been practicing drinking beer and saying “eh” after each sentence. You know, to fit in.

To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.

-Plutarch, 45-125 A.D., Greek Essayist and Biographer

—————————————————-

Recently, a couple very close to me has been going through a tough time. I think, as of now, they’re working through it but I have to admit, it was a little frightening from where I sit. Not because I had any part in it and not because there was anything I could do about it, but because I was reminded that even the most concrete relationship exterior means nothing if the insides aren’t solid.

Being single, people will often ask me if I like it. Most the time, I do. Instead of fighting the reality, I’ve somehow taught myself to enjoy it. Of course, there are rough times, that sort of goes without saying but but I enjoy things like making my own schedule, a quiet house and the freedom to make decisions based solely on my own feelings (and bank account). When I enjoy it most though, is when I work to make it better. Things like blasting Aerosmith with [gasp!] the windows open and using the phrase “no thanks, I’m saving my money” are not things I’ve always been comfortable doing.* I always thought about what others might think. Will they judge me or will they see that I’m becoming strong enough to be myself. They don’t know that I’ve worked hard to get there. I’m not sure those are things that I wouldn’t have learned had I not been single but I am sure about this: now that I have learned how to make the best of it and the work that it takes to get there, I don’t ever have to go back. What’s more, and a little to my surprise, it even feels right.

Which is how I have to, or maybe need to, believe the right relationship is. It’s got it’s ups and downs. It’s got it’s own freedoms and restrictions. But when it’s right, it’s worth it to try to make it good. Like with my friends, who are both very strong people. They don’t put on airs about how things are versus how they ought to be. They accept the differences between real and ideal and, possibly more important, the differences between one another. It’s because it’s not about the differences, it’s about working with them.

And so it’s all become a little more clear. Making something worthwhile and making it good means work. It’s not just for the single girl that learns to get comfortable with turning up the radio. It’s not just for the couple that finds themselves in a tough time. It’s life, our commonality. Our constant. We aren’t all on the same road or schedule but we are here and in that, have at least a chance at it. We just have to realize that it takes work and sometimes, if we’re lucky, everything will work out.

*Okay, so I’ve always been comfortable with Aerosmith. Maybe just for different reasons.

Tonight a group of friends and I are going to dinner at a local restaraunt that’s supporting Restaurants for Relief.

You can go here and enter your zipcode to find a resturant near you that’s helping out.

I support things like this because I know people in the Gulf Coast area. And I know people who know people in the area. And I’ve seen personal photos of places where homes used to be. And, in the building next to mine downtown here, they are still serving displaced former Gulf Coast residents. Life completely changed for a lot of people and something as little as a dinner out that you might have planned anyway could help a little.

- I had a moment I never thought I’d have: My first (and likely last) Sex and the City moment. I was never a regular fan of the show but I do remember a few episodes.

When I first bought my house, I knew the woman that lived here before me lived alone. She was quite old and, according to the neighbors, was very spry and active until her last days. However, the neighbors also told me that she was never married. Though I can’t say it’s something that freaked me out, I remember this fact once in a while and think gee, I wonder if it’s not me, it’s the house? Yes, I know how that sounds.

Anyway, my SATC moment came on Saturday morning. It was pouring rain and I decided I’d get adventurous and make blueberry muffins, from scratch. I washed the blueberries and ate a few. Then I choked on a blueberry. For about eleven seconds, I thought I was going to have to throw myself over the back of a chair to keep from dying. I didn’t have to do that, but I did think of the episode where Miranda buys her apartment and moves in alone and then proceeds to choke on something with no one there to save her. Hmm.

- I installed baseboard/molding in my bathroom. Only because three years is the respectful amount of time to wait after installing the floor to install molding. I am Miss Fix-It, I know these things.

- My best friend won’t be visiting this week after all. No matter, I actually already had plans to visit her over Labor Day weekend anyway. We’re good like that. And no, I never did manage to lose the eight pounds or grow four inches taller like I’d wanted to. Something tells me we’ll have fun anyway.

- 60 Minutes was the best thing I watched all weekend (okay, pretty much the only thing) and it rocked. Surprised? Go check out Byron Pitts’ interview with the mayor of New Orleans. Some serious topics were breached here regarding recovery efforts and racism. Also, take a look and listen at Lesley Stahl’s story on The Science of Sexual Orientation.

Maybe we don’t always know what we think we do, is all I’m saying.

- I took a very, very long bike ride on Sunday. My legs still hurt, it was tiring and I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re never going to make bike shorts that completely allow you to forget you’re on the seat of a bicycle. They’re just not.

What’s worse, no matter how long you’ve been riding clipless, those dang pedals will still find ways to surprise you. A little hill + a sharp corner + being physically attached to your bike at the feet = FRIGHTENING MOMENT IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I’d quit it completely if it weren’t so much fun.

- And finally, I’ll admit it. I’m one of those organic foods snobs. Most of the time, anyway. So, I was all proud of my salad making skills on Sunday until I was joined by this little friend:

He was dead when he fell out, but that didn’t make it any better. Even when you think you are, you’re never really alone.

Okay, first Kevin Federline is a “rapper” and now, Pluto is not a planet?

Seriously, I may have had it.

I grew up remembering the planets by saying “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas” with the first letter of each word corresponding with the first letter in each planet name. Now, I ask, what is my very educated mother going to serve us, hmmm? “Pluto is dead” says scientist Mike Brown. Thanks, Mike. You might as well tell me that my dog died. Next thing you know, you’re going to tell me not to be sad and that Pluto is off playing on a farm with all the other reject planets.

I think I need Pluto to be a planet. With everything going on in the world today, do we really need to loose something else so consistent? Science schmeience, I say!

Though, considering the new guidelines and the way I’m eating today, my butt might be the new planet.

Here’s a few things from a walk I took… before the flu.

I’d forgotten about the time it takes to recover from the flu. FOR-EV-ER.

_______________________________________________________

A Little Bit of Rainbow

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The Path Home

A Gate to Nowhere

I walked into the lobby at work this morning and “You May Be Right” was playing. Hardly elevator music, right?

So, I took my time getting to the elevator- you know, to jam a little at 6:00 a.m.- and when I stepped in, the security guard was there and he and I joked about how strange it was to hear that song in an elevator.

Then, we proceeded to sing along for the rest of the song. I promise, we did. That is the strangest thing that’s happened to me in an elevator (get your mind out of the gutter).

_______________________________________________________

Billy Joel
You May Be Right

Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I’m sorry
Sunday came and trashed me out again

I was only having fun
Wasn’t hurting any one
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change

I’ve been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain

And you told me not to drive
But I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that I’m insane

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for

Turn out the light
Don’t try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Remember how I found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled

You were lonely for a man
I said take me as I am
Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while

Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say

If I’m crazy then it’s true
That it’s all because of you
And you wouldn’t want me any other way

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic your looking for

It’s too late to fight
Don’t try to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for

Turn out the light
Don’t try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

You may be wrong but you may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right