One Step at a Time

…. happy Valentine’s Day …. hug the ones you love, will ya?

I just also noticed that I completely overlooked my blogiversary …. it was one year ago on February 6th that I started writing here!

What a crazy week it’s been … I am surprised that I’ve managed to get in three runs, but perhaps that’s what is keeping me sane. I presented at a major conference this week, and had a big career moment, where I realized that I’ve arrived. I’m all grown up. I presented on a panel with a very well-respected rec therapist, Renate, who actually was an instructor of mine in University. It just struck me: we are peers. And then, a just-about-to-graduate RT came up to me and was picking my brain about some issues in our field, it struck me again. She’s asking me because I’ve been in this field for awhile. To her, I am Renate. That part just made me giggle out loud for some reason. I know I’ve done well, and my career has taken a very steady path considering that I haven’t worked full-time in awhile with three kids. But, somehow, I just don’t feel so very grown-up.

I just got back from running with my friend Vicky … the one I did the run with in September. I love friendships like hers, when you move through the “acquaintance” phase really, really quickly because the connection is so strong. She’s an amazing woman.

Interestingly, when we were running tonight, I coughed a few times, and Vicky commented: “You have asthma, right?” I don’t know that I have asthma. My son Troy has asthma — moreso cold-induced than anything. However, she got me thinking. I do cough consistently when I run — the throat-clearing kind of cough. As in every 2 minutes at least. Interesting, and something I’m going to explore a bit more.

Other bits:

–Saw Curious George today with Derek and Camryn and a gaggle of Derek’s friends. It was so cute, and I thought the Drew Barrymore character was depicted so well.

–Feeling the need to develop a Game Cube rationing system in my house. Because the basement is under renovation, we are living on our main floor only right now. It sucks, frankly. The Game Cube is right in my lovely living room, where I like to talk and read and tickle. But noooooo …… I get to hear the beepbeeepbadumbeeeeeep of Mario Kart Super Seven Smelly Crash Brothers Return or whatever game they love waaaaaaaaay too much. I am not anti-video game … I Santa bought the thing, didn’t Ihe??!?! I find myself almost hating it though, and I think it’s just that I can’t get away from it. We limit the time the boys have on it, but I think I’m going to re-frame that. To EARNING the time they get on it. By …. reading and doing chores and saving the world or something. Yeesh. Any thoughts out there from more experienced parents?

–Downstairs is under complete renovation (I think Troy has forgotten he even wanted his own room?!?!) and I’m getting quotes on some work upstairs. Renovation is a virus, I swear. We want to rip out a pantry that creates an annoying circle / makes our kitchen too small. To do that, I got a quote from an amazing custom woodworker to make me a unit to put all the pantry things in. With this pantry and closet gone, we’ll have more of a great room concept. It means redoing floors …. and we need to paint … and we’ll need more light. See … virus! Why does this all take so long in my house?!!? Because when Kevin is home, it’s my time to make student calls and work. We juggle that in a big way for me to be home with the kids probably 95% of the time.

–I just found out that I am heading to Vancouver in early March!!! Yay!!!! I get to run that seawall again ……