Zee Write Stuff

SUMMER FADES


I haven't posted in ages.  I wonder how many bloggers start a post with a line like that at least once a year? every six months? monthly?  Well, I'm baaaaacccccckkkkkk.  A part of me considers this idle time wherein I could be "really" writing -- back to The Cheesy Christmas Story or Molly or The Last Spy or Magic in the Mix or... well, you get the idea.  I could be writing. 


But this really, truly is WRITING.  And it's a good way to get myself back in the swing, the saddle, the line-up... (or another metaphor).  The summer has delivered lovely and lazy days,  great for rejuvenation, not that I need much.  Here's what's up:


1.  I finished the 5k.  Ran all the way.  Well, almost.  Just walked up that last little hill.  Ugh.  I was the slowest runner in the pack.  I could have walked faster than I ran.  BUT... as my friend Betty Ryberg continues to remind me:  "you beat everyone who didn't run at all."  Okay, that's weak, but I'll take it.  I did beat those who slept in on the morning of the race.  I realize now how much fear I was carrying about running and how that impeded my progress.  I'm working on actually RUNNING now, not jogging.  And yes.... I continue to run three times per week, usually every-other-day -- MWF or Tu/Th plus either Sat or Sun.  I must confess, however, to abstaining during the height of the humidity.  No can do.  It's just too too overwhelming -- I can't work for the rest of the day if I start out all sweaty and exhausted.  Usually running in the morning exhilarates the rest of my day, but not when I'm a wet dishrag after running in the humidity. One more thing -- I never really ran 3 miles until the 5K race.  Yep.  That was a surprise.  I have been training by time and not by distance.  I haven't changed that ... yet.  But if I ever (ha ha ha ha ha) sign up for another race, I'll have to find a distance and stick to it.  But I'll repeat: ha ha ha ha ha... on that future race idea.


2.  Lots of sewing.  Quilts, clothes, bitty booties.... ooooooooh... that brings me to #3... (drumroll)...


3.  The BIG NEWS:  I'm gonna be a grandmother.  Now this takes some explaining, since I'm already a grandma.  I'm a grandmother to my husband's kids' children.  In essence, I'm a step-grandmother.  But I've always considered myself a grandmother (although I admit to having a bit of hurt feeling when one of the kids told my husband that I "wasn't really in the family").  


My son and his wife (wedding pictures from summer 2009 here somewhere in the archive) are expecting my first biological grandchild in February.  I suspect I'll feel something a little different with this bambino.  I'm not sure. I would hope my love is equal to the task of surrounding all five (5!) amazing grandchildren -- each with his or her own personality.  But you just never know what will happen, do you?  I am excited and happy and looking forward.  I love connecting in this even with Geoff and Carrie who are unique and delightful in my eyes.  Watching them welcome a new life will be inspiring.  Oh, it is already.  Do you know what they did?  They sent me a digital sound byte of the baby's heartbeat.  Did I cry?  Oh, please.  Tissue fairies have been alerted!


I'm sure I have more news, but I'm so not sure anybody's actually reading.  I'll get back to ... SYLLABUSVILLE.   I'm taking off the Spring Semester 2011, so I've got 3 classes now for which I need to prep and organize. Oy!