Still Here

Got up at 5:00 yesterday and today to exercise for the first time in forever. Both days it didn't go quite the way I expected, but I did work up a sweat both times, so that puts me ahead of the game. I've learned a few things: don't open my email before starting a work-out (because I won't get up again), oatmeal does make a good pre-workout breakfast, and it distresses my daughter when I wear headphones when I do the treadmill because she can't hear me. (My Ex's latest waifs/his SO's daughter and two grandkids, are now sleeping above that room, so I can't just blast the music). So Friday night I'm going to remind her that I'm going to up be up and on the treadmill with headphones and not able to hear her, instead of waking her up briefly in the morning, which has been our usual practice. Alternate days are weight lifting in the living room, and she can hear that.

I won't be able to meet with my shamanic teacher for a while because of financial issues, but we're going to keep in touch via email. She's working on opening a shamanic healing practice, and has asked me to journey on the topic of whether or not I want to embark on specific training to be part of that. That's exciting, and will require serious reflection. One thing is certain, however: I am not going to quit my dayjob to become part of a full-time entreprenuerial undertaking again. I've done start-ups twice, and it has not worked out well. (Well, the rocket company was a marvelous experience -- until it shut down.) I can't afford to disrupt steady income right now. Besides, not all clients will be able to visit during the day, so someone has to be available to work evenings and weekends, right?

Tuesday morning I got out my Covey planner and decided on three goals to pursue. They are: fitness -- get my weight down to 130 pounds and/or feel good about how I look; finish my novel by the end of the year (that is, have the entire story written out, all narrative gaps filled); and to finish developing and teach my workshop "The Lamp and the Mirror: Illuminating and Reflecting on Personal Theology." I don't have a finish date on that one. Maybe by the of the year I will have a place/time set to teach it, even if it isn't until after the first of the year.

Exercise six days a week, work on the novel every day. Those are my two big goals.

Weather permitting, The Child and I go to a smaller regional zoo on Saturday, then to my parents house with some LOTR movies to take advantage of their new flatscreen tv, and then on Sunday I'm going back to my Swedenborgian church, where I haven't really been in attendance since my unfortunate learning experience as president of the church board.

As always, reading LJ puts me behind schedule. Better hurry to get to work. I've been reading everyone, but not commenting much. Hope to do better over the next few days.

All for One!

Via shellefly

You scored as Aramis. You are Aramis, the Musketeer priest. Two natures war within you: one full of high-minded ideals and the other a sensualist. Your love life is an art form, and you are a Romantic who places great importance on the perfect date. Sometimes you manipulate people and events a little too much, but your heart is good nevertheless. </td> Aramis 70% Porthos 60% Mercedes 60% Athos 45% Richelieu 45% Edmund Dantes 40% D'Artagnan 40% Rochefort 35% Which Dumas character are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Mostly true, although I don't make a habit of manipulating people.

The 5 Question Meme for the Umpteenth Time

bookchick and I have been friends for almost ten years now. Her five questions to me:

1. What are your 3 desert island discs (the three you'd want if you were forever stranded on a desert island, but could listen to CDs forever)?
The soundtrack of The Return of the King.
The Dream Cast version of Les Miserables
Moulin Rouge

2. If you were given $1000 and told to spend it on yourself, but no books, cds, or things including the Child, what would you get?
This is surprisingly difficult. My first impulse would be to buy as much new flooring as I can afford.
Or I would pay for a long retreat at a luxury spa in a place where I could be pampered while I worked on my novel and do some working out.

3. What do you regret, if anything, that has only to do with you? (ie, not including past relationships, etc)
Backsliding so much physically after being down to 140 pounds and in pretty great shape after working out at the X-Gym and being on a good diet for a year.


4. What's a favorite memory from childhood that makes you smile?
Just about any memory from seventh grade, which was one of the top four years of my life. I especially enjoyed the youth group at my church, which was a fun mix of silliness, music, and Bible study. One of the assistants was a senior in high school named Clark, who I had a huge crush on. He was funny, talented, and deeply loving. I have only good memories of him.


5. Describe a perfect day.
Sleep in, have a chicken quesadilla. . . do some moderate exercise. . . Spend several hours writing or doing other creative work. . . break for lunch. . . . Spend several hours studying something that interests me. . . have a steak dinner. . . Direct a rehearsal or present a workshop. . . and then go out for drinks with a romantic partner.