Monday Meanderings

I could almost sum up today's meanderings with just one phrase - getting back to business as usual - but that wouldn't be any fun, now would it?

• I am feeling really good! My restful weekend was very helpful, and I believe I'm ready to get on with life.
• Proof? There are very few aches/pains/pulls/sensations of any sort leftover from the surgery. Compared with how I felt when I woke up a week ago...well, there just is no comparison!
• Having said that, I am being careful...although I am frustrated a very great deal by the need to do so.
• Evidence? I did go back to the gym today, but I only walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes (including a 5 min warm up and a a 5 min cool down). It felt GREAT to be back at the gym....but at the same time I was incredibly irritated with the need to hold back. The ridiculous side stitch that I got didn't help.
• Seriously. A side stitch for walking 2 miles. That's just silly.
• I think I've only had side stitches two or three times since this started....and I've NEVER had one while WALKING.
• I saw my trainer while I was at the gym, and she's quite frankly glad we don't have an appointment until Friday. I get the idea that she would be happy if I did nothing but walk all week.
• We'll see. I hope to be back to at least a jog by Friday. Ideally I'd like to test my long runs out next weekend.
• I come from a long line of people who push themselves too hard and too fast during recoveries. My own parents are prime examples....and so I'm trying to use their experiences to hold myself back just a bit.
• It's hard fighting nature.
• I'm trying very hard to withhold judgement on my chances of running the half marathon until the end of the month. (The race is on April 11th.) I was doing so well in training prior to last week that there still is hope that I could at least walk it - frustrating as that might be - but I'm also trying to be realistic as I lost a full 9 days of training and don't know how long it will take to get back to where I was. I know full well that I made the right decision and that the surgery was necessary. It's hard, though, when you've worked so hard for so long to reach a goal like this.
• Hmm...other things to talk about....
• I messed around with crochet yesterday! Prior to the surgery I picked up Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti, and yesterday I used it to practice some basics.
• Once upon a time I had taught myself how to crochet and actually did a few pieces - including a gigantic afghan made of granny-like squares - but it's been years and years, and I had taught myself some bad habits.
• What kind of bad habits? I hold the yarn in the wrong hand, and I grip the hook from the top instead of holding it like a pencil.
• The jury is still out as to whether or not it's easier to do things the "right" way.
• I started another pair of basic socks for my husband this morning. He was delighted when I told him about it.
• I'm still perhaps a shade too tired to focus on complex projects. That and I have a lot of catching up around the house to do.
• My husband is planning on attending a couple of gaming conventions in the next few months. When he asked me if it was ok, I quite naturally answered that it was. Then I tacked on something to the effect that I might sign up for some sort of art classes to make things even. I'll have to think on that a bit.
• Spring cleaning has begun!
• We will be tile shopping for the kitchen very soon!
• The snow is almost gone! (See below.)

Have a great week everyone!