8:12 a.m. May 19, 2010 (no editing, no apologies)

It’s going to be a big writing day. The past two days haven’t been and it’s been a drag. I’m trying the “work in a different environment to keep the brain fresh” approach today. With hopes of sources calling me back to help add to what I’m supposed to write.

It’s an Italian Caffe type of morning. I”ve received my box from Italy filled with all the good I purchased, including my little two-cup espresso maker and two little cup/saucer sets, which are just too pretty to use. So the odd sized Anthropologie bird cups I use instead.

I’m really going to stick to my 15 minutes today, I really am. And not stop writing for them. No stopping to think, no pondering how to cleverly say something. Just go go go. Now that I’ve had a twee bit of caffeine, just enough to stumble to my computer and turn it on and warm up, let’s hope this does the same to the brain.

Now that life has calmed down, Red Rocks and Italy are over with (YES i know i need to get a blog or two up about Italy), I can jump into training mode for the next three months. I’ve started training with a guy who is a Fit Boss in the Navy; he’s generously offered to provide his professional services to me and Candace in helping us get stronger for our climb. My shoulder is annoying me some, and it’s always interesting to find out what exercise bothers it the most. Running twice last week wasn’t good apparently, but lifting wieghts, with immediate Ibprofin and ice afterwards helped it feel fine the next day. SItting in my chair at work does not make it happy AT ALL. Even though I”ve been through the physical therapy rigamarole, I’m going to see if i can find a back specialist around here that will help me figure out what’s wrong. In the mean time, quick massages from the trainer, with the occassional hour-long deep tissue from a sports therapist.

halfway there and haven’t stopped!

I think stressing out about it more adds to the irritation, and i’ve had tweaked body parts before and i’m funcitioning just as well as i was before, after a bit of time or so. SO, i know this too will pass.

The only other thing stressing me out is my gardens. The weeds. I forget when it gets warm, BAM they all pop up. I did a good job of weeding a lot of the gardens a few months ago, but it was a matter of follow up with landscape fabric and mulch. Only two sections left to do. will i actually get any plants in? who knows. i have to dig up my front yard this summer or next, depending on how many times i have to have my main drain snaked and how much i can save up for the job. hence, why i’m not landscaping my front yard anytime soon, despite my incredibly strong desire to have one of the best looking yards/houses on 11th street. However, I did get compliments yesterday on my tulips and my “Bremerton For Chickens” sign. I”m glad someone got to enjoy my tulips – they all came and went during the two weeks I was gone to Italy. Boo. I do a have a rose in the backyard and some primroses that are still blooming. and my succulents/grasses container box is thriving well. So that makes me happy – to see color as i walk in and out of my backdoor, against the drab of the grey/blue and white trim house. Now i just want to fill the empty container plants with large grasses, vines, colleouses (whatever I have in the backyard), ferns, etc. I’d love to line my brick pathways with littlegrasses too, like monkeygrass, like the way it is in the gardens at Grandma and Grandpa’s old place on Warwana Street.

One more minute!

whatelsewhatelsewhatelse – i hope the weather cooperates this weekend – i’ll be out with the OC class at Castle Peak on Saturday. I hope to do Camp Muir on Sunday if anyone is willing to meet me down there (and dpending on the weather) or I’ll just do Castle Peak again with the class on SUnday. Can never get into too much hiking.

SHEW.