I just started running again a few weeks ago. Straight out of the cubicle last year, the challenge to increase my speed and distance was as much mental as it was physical. Running a mile seemed like a long distance, and then three miles seemed outrageous–who was I to run three miles? And then six … Continue reading
How to do everything
I’m reading a lot of inspirational literature and listening to a lot of the same kind of audiobooks as we gear up for our Big Life Change. One of the best results is that I am learning to give myself permission to not do all the things I think I should be doing if I … Continue reading
Rice and beans for you
While rice and beans was the unfortunate catalyst for an epic fallout with my normally beloved bro, I’m still a fan (of the dish…and my bro). The dish is perfectly nutritious, jaw-droppingly cheap, and as flexible as Gabby Douglas. I mean, you can do anything you want to it, and it will just be damn … Continue reading
Black beans and relationships
Jeremy and I vowed to not eat out for the month of August. At the same time, I’ve been looking for easy, cheap, healthy meals that can be stretched out over a couple of days of lunch and dinner, and rice and beans is about as perfect as it gets. I fired up the slow cooker and the … Continue reading
Surfing is a goal of mine
I’ve been working on a list of 101 goals. It’s something like a bucket list with a couple of boring habits I’d like to cultivate, like exercising twenty minutes a day everyday and getting to work on time. One of the goals I am most excited about reaching is surfing in Bali. I have always … Continue reading
Guesting
I’ve been inundated with house guests lately. That’s not even true. I’ve had a few guests over the past couple of weekends, and I’m going to have a few more in August. But the thought of hosting anyone, even my own mother and even just overnight, stresses me out so much that any kind of … Continue reading
Getting beyond the voices
I love reading self-help books. I like lots of other things that make me a complex and worthwhile person, but I also love reading self-help books. They’re like a little nitrous for the soul, just a boost of encouragement and hope that helps me keep the wheels turning even faster than usual for a couple … Continue reading
Housecleaning for the soul
All the excess stuff in this house is driving me nuts. I have been a stuff-magnet since I moved back, gathering hand-me-downs from friends and relatives, hitting up the thrift stores and discount stores, and generally just finding a place for any item that comes my way. But it drives me crazy! I hate fighting … Continue reading
Magic Mike review
I’m not in the habit of writing movie reviews, and by now, I assume that most of you who were, like me, all hot and bothered at the prospect of seeing not only Channing Tatum but also Matthew McConaughey (who’s about to be a daddy, btw) as God intended have already seen Magic Mike, so this … Continue reading
I *heart* my local credit union
I have been banking with PNC since college. I opened my first account there as a freshman because that’s where my parents and grandparents in Pittsburgh banked. I was with them through college and then all my years abroad, but we started having problems when I moved to Harrisonburg: the closest branch is two hours … Continue reading