My world

Running: I've been fighting off some cold or something this week, which has made for tough training. Oh, well. I always seem to get sick at race time. My triathlon is tomorrow, and after that I can focus on my upcoming marathons (in two weeks and in 4 weeks). Monday I did a brick - a 22 mile ride followed immediately by a 5K run. Tuesday I went to my triathlon clinic and spent an hour doing 3 or 4 mini-bricks. I've been unbelievably tired and achey, so I skipped my workout altogether on Wednesday, sleeping in until 7:30. I slept in until after 9 on Thursday and took a nap. Since I usually get up between 4 and 5 am, this is a really big deal for me to sleep so long! Mentally I couldn't handle another day without exercise, so I ran 7 miles on Thursday mid-morning. Today is Friday. I'll do a short ride this evening (just to get better acquainted with my new bike), and tomorrow is the race. Hopefully next Monday or Tuesday I can get one last long run in (20 miles, I hope), then taper down before the September 4th marathon.

I love running. I love swimming. I like cycling. I hate/love racing (race jitters make me wonder what in the world I'm doing, race excitement answers that question). I am looking forward to the end of racing season, though. I could use a break.

Reading: We went to West Yellowstone yesterday to see a play at the Playmill Theater. The drive gave me time to actually read! I was thrilled! I read Gregor the Overlander on the way there and back (I'd actually started it the day before). It was really well-written, a great story. It's by the same author that wrote The Hunger Games, but is written for a younger audience, so it wasn't disturbing. I don't dare tell the premise of the story because it sounds so dumb, but the author pulls it off. It's not every day that I find myself crying at the death of a cockroach, and having conflicting feelings about a rat! See - sounds dumb. But it isn't.

Ruminations: Just a quick note here, since my kids are hovering around me (they ALWAYS do this, right when I sit down to type. It's really difficult to concentrate with a face in front of me while being bombarded with questions and comments). Yesterday the girls and I were running to an appointment since I was late and it is just around the corner. Eleanor, who is tall and slender and 5 years old, was running the fastest. Suddenly she stopped and looked at me with her big blue eyes and, panting, said, "Oh, my love handles hurt!" I had to laugh. And what do you say to that? "Yeah, mine do, too."

Ruminations, cont. (My kids are now outside): Over the past few months (like, since April) I've been trying to get different contractors to come back and finish or fix things at the house. One of them keeps promising to come but never does, and the other one won't even answer his phone. I've resorted to calling his father, who assures me every time I call that his son will get the job done. I don't know what else to do. Building this house nearly killed me as I tried to coordinate all the contractors and work with suppliers and meet with inspectors and finalize plans with the architect & designer. Thankfully Jeff took care of figuring out the financing, and Jeff's dad found all the contractors and helped me get them going. It was hard on me, though. I didn't know what I was doing. The house needed me, but so did my kids. It was a very stressful time for Jeff & me. So glad that's over. These last two contractors are opening up those old stress-wounds, though, and I don't like it.

Sometimes I wish I could just take care of the whole world. I wish I could make everyone happy, take care of their needs, help everyone get along. But if it was so stressful working with the few contractors on our house, I very much doubt I'll be able to manage the world.

Since I know my limits, I guess I'll do what I can: try to manage my own little family. Try to make my children & husband happy, take care of their needs, and help them get along. Sheesh! That's a big enough chore for anyone! Thankfully, my little crew is a good one and they try hard. They are patient with my requests, and we love, we laugh, we play. Yup, there is beauty all around when there's love at home. Is it enough love to help the world along? Maybe. Maybe just a little, but it's something.