This & That

My poor little blog readers... I have nothing to entertain you with. The temperatures today are predicted to be sunny mid 60's, I'm spending the morning book writing and the afternoon doing a bit of paid writing. (Someday those will be the same things...) But there is nothing to report but tidbits of life.

• Last summer's running group reformed on Sunday as we did 13, 11, 10, 8, and 5 mile runs, depending on when each decided to turn back. =)
• Blair is working on our taxes. The good news is that I made a lot of money last year. The bad news is I didn't withhold taxes on that money. Can you say, "Owe the government copious amounts of cash....?"
• I pulled a muscle in yoga and, for the moment, can't lift my right leg more than 4 inches off the ground. Makes getting dressed that much more interesting.
• I'm half-way finished with a new book of cat stories, a follow-up to Lessons In Stalking. I've got about 15 stories complete and ready for review. I need 5 more stories to round out the book. I'm staring at the cats hourly, hoping they do something cute.
• We made brownies last night and I decided nothing but brownies would do for breakfast this morning. I'm now on a massive sugar high yet can do little more than think about the one brownie that remains in the kitchen...

I told you... pretty calm life. I'm off to goad the cats into doing something at least mildly amusing.

Kung-Fu Kitty

Blair and I have started a nice little morning ritual where he feeds the fish and then we sit together on the couch in semi-darkness, sipping coffee and watching them eat. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't.  It's a peaceful opening to the day before "the world" intrudes.

Of course, if you have cats, "the world" always intrudes. The other morning we were sitting quietly, contemplating the fish when suddenly kung-fu cat appeared and attacked the fish tank.

"WAH-HAH-HEE-AIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE-YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lucy leapt onto the dining room chair and pummelled the glass barrier. Her paws were a blur of karate chops. Fish scattered, Blair and I both jumped and kung-fu kitty, having made her point, leapt off the chair and raced out of the room.

"Is she high? Blair asked, brushing spilled coffee off his robe.

I have no idea what gets into her. After 80 billion attempts, you would think she would have clued in by now that the fish tank is impenetrable.  Apparently she thought ancient Eastern martial arts held the key to success.  Hopefully she's learned her lesson.

Although I'm concerned she hasn't give up. I saw her studying a book of dark magic the other day.

Be very afraid...

Yearly Physical

"Get a physical" has been on my New Year's list for about the past 8 years now. 2008 is the year--ta-dah!--I finally get to check that one off.

I had my "yearly" physical today. Everything is a go. Cholesterol was in the mid-range which, while acceptable, surprised me. I expected it to come back low.  My iron is low, but only 1 point below the acceptable range so nothing to be concerned about. Everything else is status quo. (See "What's New?" "Nothing" entry of Wednesday.)

I found a doctor who is also a runner--very important as non-running doctors often tell you to quit running at the first hint of an injury while doctors who run tend to dig deeper and evaluate if there really is a need to stop or slow down on the running.  We chit-chatted about running, races, and PR's during the visit. I like him. He sat with me for at least 30 minutes, if not more, and went over every detail of my bloodwork and family history. I can't remember the last time a doctor spent more than 5 minutes in the same room with me.  Very refreshing.

I couldn't recall the last time I had a tetanus shot so they gave me one today.  Can you say, "Can no longer raise my right arm above shoulder height?" That shot packs a wallop. Hopefully I'll regain use of my limbs by tomorrow. (BTW, a shout-out to my best friend who had a boxing session with her trainer last night. She's so sore today she literally "can't hold a pencil." Productive day at work, Trish?)

Here's to all my reader's health!

Nothing is New, Thanks for Asking

Last month my best friend went on a one-week trip to Mexico. She called me when she got back and filled me in on the fun and hijinks of her trip. "So," she said after telling me about her week, "What's new with you?"

"Nothing."

Nothing is new with me. Ever. That used to bother me. Surely something should happen in the course of daily life. Something of some interest or humor or significance. But I rack my brain on how to answer this question and can come up with little more than the cute new thing the cat is doing and which--I'm well aware--most people don't want to hear about.

I've recently come to appreciate "nothing" though. Two of my friends are heading into what look to be brutal, knock-down, drag out divorces.  My sister is dealing with two sick kids while being sick herself. One friend is freaking out while trying to work and homeschool her daughter. Another friend is terrified a business venture she entered is not going to pay off and she and her husband have thrown almost all of their money (including their home mortgage) into it...

Thank you, but I'm happy to take "nothing" in lieu of the alternatives. Friends and family tease that Blair and I are the most stable (read: boring) couple around and it may be true. We're in bed by 10 on weeknights and 10:15 on weekends.  We don't go out drinking and dancing. We will probably be in our home until the day we die. (No one can claim to lose our mailing address. We're right where we've always been!). We prefer to see matinees and eat dinner early on Saturday nights to avoid the crowds. In essence... we are ready to join the blue-hairs who eagerly line up at the K&W counter at 4:30pm for dinner and get excited when the fish they like is on the menu. We are very, very close to being these people...

But that's okay. Our boring little life is good. We're in love, we've got fish and cats, good jobs, and good health. Lose touch with me for 6 months then call me up and ask what's new. "Nothing," I'll say.

And I'll be grateful for it.