HI-YA! chop.

Had coffee with two friends last night. Though I ordered decaf, I'm pretty sure I got the real stuff--- and was chemically transformed into a Christmas elf. I was (high-pitch) WIRED! The neighbors were playing Guitar Hero really loud, but it didn't matter... I was crafting until past midnight.

I made cookies, wrapped a pretty pretty present, made a advent calendar, decorated tins for granola and pecans AND cleaned up after it all.

I'll have to download the photos; I can't wait to show you it all!

Before coffee, I headed back to the gym. I took a break from running (knees) and did some cycling. I know that's not the best for a recovering knee either, but it's better than the impact of running -- and it's whoa intense.

Those cycling people are crazy! I haven't been so pushed to the brink in... I don't know how long.

Try it someday.

You'll cry... oh wait... that's sweat. My bad.

P.S.-- this is what my family and I will be doing this weekend (plus Bingo). It's the Hardin family Thanksgiving!

I got a years membership to the local gym here.

When it came time to hand over the credit card, I was too late to join in on the cycling class. So I lifted weights.

Today my arms are so very sore.

Yessssssss.

I went to yoga today.

Glorious.

How do I feel???



(photo by brother)

I got up at 6 this morning to run.

Hey everybody! Look at me!

Actually, I am quite proud. For the past week or so I've set my alarm for this early morning rise but pushed snooze every time. Two times I accidentally turned off the alarm and was almost late to work. Ooops.

But this morning...

i
got
up

yesssssssss

I had been resting my knees since my doctor visit last week. I have a big painful bump at the top of my tibia. Doc said it's an overuse injury and labeled it a form of tendinitis. the pain usually went away after the first mile, so I had continued to run. I really don't know how that happened. I had been doing a very gradual mileage increase.

But when I couldn't climb the stairs at work, I made the appointment.

The run this morning was pain free, and even now... I feel great.

WHOOP!!! (look, I'm whooping again)

Oh, these college students here. They are so focused on the future, they can't enjoying the present. Attending meetings, wearing suits for student gov, wanting to date the officers in student senate.

Once, I kinda had the same mindset. I was a complete idiot for wasting time in meetings. It's not cool to pretend you're cool.

Affirmative, Captain.

mmmmm mm, girl. (*snaps*)

(head nod)

I want to share my crystal ball with them. I want to show them that pretending to be cool now only leads to pretending to be cool later... which is way worse, because then they think that pretending to be cool now will make them really cool later. And then, when they realize that pretending gets you pretend everything else (friends, pretend job, pretend passion), you will be sad.

Negative on the sadness.

The only way to be cool is to care about others, I say in my head.

Become less, I suggest.
Give away, I say today.
Conversate with a stranger, it doesn't always mean danger.

This idea has a place in the world... karma, and the like. But, it is the place for Christians. I read this book. It said that giving to others shouldn't be in the church's budget, it should BE the church's budget. Until Inspector Gadget 2007 comes out with a heart detector like on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (remember how the Grinch's heart grew three full sizes on that awesome monitor?), the way we relate to others will be the only way others can get a taste of the Kingdom.

(photo from flicker)

I had a quote from Amelia Earheart on my desk in Tyler.

"The most effective way to do it, is to do it."

I should probably re-write that (it's ripped out of a reporter's notebook) and put it in my new office.

It's easy to forget.