January 16, 2016

I could have slept so long this morning – but of course the phone “pinged” around 7:30 regarding my niece’s dance class, so I was up.

I cleaned the kitchen, listening to Flo-Rida and Pitbull, deciding that the rain wasn’t enough to keep me home, so the pups and I got ready…

…and headed to the hills.  The first stop was had snow all over the road and the hill was too steep for my little 2WD to master, despite the chains I had on in minutes, so I backed up and we were going to try to find a trail, but a car passed by and stopped, then another, and NYC is not for me, so we loaded up, I whipped those chains off and we were off.  The second spot was more of a rugged off-trail adventure, but gunfire was so near that I kept imagining bullets piercing my body, so after half a mile here, I turned around again and left.  The third spot was a pay-site, but no guns nor motorized vehicles are allowed, so that was in my favor.  The $5 was worth it.  We walked a few miles…sadly I never found "The Trial" that takes us to the back part of the lake, but that’s ok.  I got 5 miles in, it was drizzly and I didn’t see a soul.  Perfect.

 

At home, I made a quick, healthy lunch (a bit of chicken and broccoli); the smell of curry making it smell like many motels I stay in on the road.  I don’t really have anything to do.  No school work and I am not enthusiastic about cleaning, so….I’m watching this series of which I pay attention to about 1/3 of it.  It isn’t really “gripping” but has serious eye candy and in my condition, that’s a nice thing to have.

Off for a bit of sushi and then kindling so I could build a fire while watching more eye candy.  I sat and watched this series, chatted online and ate so many damn energy balls that I'm exhausted.   I really need a damn hobby because this is boring as hell.

Pictures: Hiking pictures; Castiel from Supernatural

January 15, 2016

OVERSLEPT BY AN HOUR!  Didn’t get up til 6:37 – but fortunately the kids aren’t here, so it was no big deal.  Dire Straits this morning…man, that made my soul feel good.

Work – learning the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath.  I see traits of both. Zoooom over to the clinic for a final session before our newest clinician takes him on since my Friday’s are booked. Zooooomm back to JH to meet with gang member.  Did I mention I love my job?

There was a weights date before the Zumba date.  I learned a few tricks from my friend which will be good.  I still have a paid month of training with Jake, but time is tricky now.  Maybe in March.  I decided to take off the glasses for Zumba, which was terrific as I didn’t watch anyone else. It was liek being an a disco aquarium.  I must have burned 1000 calories tonight at least, because I didn’t put on my fitbit until just before I left for the gym and when I got back into my car the calorie burn-count was over 1,700.  It bloody kicked my ASS, but man – if I keep this up with my eating for the next few months, holy hell.  

Home with a very, very pained body and I cooked a healthy dinner.  Those energy balls are gonna kill me – peanut butter, oats, chia seed, flax seed, agave juice, cacao nibs and semi-sweet morsels.  They taste like heaven.   I can’t wait til breakfast when I get 2 balls for breakfast .

  Had another lovely FB chat with a friend – a different one this time.  This one suggested I ski with her soon and mentioned the attractive, fit men who ride ski lifts.  Yes, please.  Then I laugh….  Why am I so desperately lonely now??  When I’m trying to get things together to move to Switzerland?   I’ve always been a little skewed in my planning, I find.  

Pictures: So ready to head out in Lizzie, but it's a little chilly right now and she has no heater, nor insulation; On the way to work; Arnika (the real thing) from Austria - made by my dad's friends, for my sore muscles; A glorious shot this morning; Dire Straits - "So Far Away"

January 14, 2016

I hit the bullseye this morning – 5:35 – a full 20 minutes pre-alarm.  My eyes are still semi-vampirish – one is very red and hurts, my cornea was somehow scratched and I kept wearing contacts.  Looks like glasses will be the go-to for a while, but I still don’t feel very comfortable in them, plus they keep sliding down my nose a bit – ever since Hipsmas.

Work – conversing with and looking into the eyes of a murderous sociopath.  I love my job.

Here’s how cold-hearted I am becoming – For the second time in 4 months, I spit out my gum onto the deserted road – another sparrow…(probably) DEAD.

Long FB chat with a friend…I do enjoy the way FB gives me time with friends when Life doesn’t allow, and this conversation discussed (in part) what I yearn for – a deep, complex man – one I can converse with.  I’ve not enjoyed such a relationship with a significant other except for that one brief moment in time when I was involved with someone I had known for a long time and was involved with for a very short time.  Such an intense relationship – and it couldn’t work, but I continue to look for a man like that – We also discussed health, food, music, and of course, Tim Ferriss.

More Zumba plus weight training tomorrow night for my Friday night date.  I’m already exhausted just thinking about it.  Lara kicks my ass.

Pictures:  Winter's trees are like a disorganized spider web; This could be helpful

January 13, 2016

I slept late again – 5:55 (alarm). To be fair, my sleep was interrupted – by rain: beautiful, beautiful rain.

Early client, then supervision and meetings at juvenile hall.   Sessions with the kids (you know where this goes)…

…on my way home, I saw an SUV with 2 mattresses tied on the top with bungee cords driving about 80 mph, so the were mattresses bent back and off the car by 3 feet.  Had those bungees snapped, there would have been several car accidents.  This ridiculous woman about 24 years old was driving like a bat outta hell and looked shocked when I passed her with the “WHAT-IN-HELL’S-NAME-ARE-YOU-DOING”??? look on my face.  I guess driving 65 and in the right-hand lane would have been crimping her style.

Home to steak and broccoli and the boy had 4 hotdogs, plus steak and broccoli.  We have hit that age of disappearing food, it seems.  We cut out pictures from magazines for my clients since ALL of mine have disappeared since the move.  

I have been titrating my medicine down for months and decided yesterday that I shall, once again, try to stop.  In the last 6 years since my last attempt, my dosage has been so low with such a mild SSRI that I believe I can finally, after decades (since my head injury when I was 16) be free.  If things don’t seem to work or when/if the depression comes back, I know exactly what to do and whom to contact.  I have been riding this rodeo for a while and am the expert on my mental needs, trust me.  I look forward to a day of not being “on” anything, which also includes the removal of my IUD (which releases small amounts of hormones and has worked very well!  I’ve been sex-free ever since I’ve had it!!).  I long to be free of anything until the next phase in my life when I need to be on medications for something or other. 

Pictures: Mags working on homework; crazy-ass lady speeding with mattresses; Canvas of rain clouds

January 12, 2016

A Monday morning on a Tuesday: I woke up later than I like (with the alarm at 5:55) and discovered I hadn’t turned insurance papers in on time, off to school.  Realized today is the one year anniversary of my being at New Morning Youth & Family Services

3 clients at my school site, which is near my former home.  I miss living in this area.  I don’t feel connected to where I live now, but maybe that’s because of not planning on being here long.  

I was able to pick up a letter of recommendation today from someone I didn’t expect.  Understanding my often incorrect assumptions teaches me that I have so much to learn.

Late night clients – victims of a horrific divorce.  Does marriage ever work anymore?  

Home where Mags had prepared the first part of curry for chicken that I made and both kids loved it.  I am ready – want to get Lizzie and head out with my kids on an adventure.

Picture:  Ms. Trish's Foo Fighter love.