making it simple

Chickens, it is Friday.

And rainy.

And colder than it was yesterday.

But still, Friday is progress.

So we’ll take it.

And smile about it.

This has been a crazy week of running around, getting things done, and not going to yoga quite as much as I’d like to.

Also: Gene the kettlebell instructor has taken to his mother Russia for three weeks, leaving me with no swinging and lifting outlet.

When I whined to him that three weeks was a long time, he told me he had to inspire us to travel by traveling himself, and then cheerfully suggested that we simply eat less in his absence.

It’s a good thing I like him so much.

Up this weekend: JW’s parents are in, which means lots of eating and hanging, celebrating Mother’s Day, and maybe trying to pack a couple more things into boxes.

Our apartment was rented this week, so now we’ve got an end date: June 27, there’s a lot between now and you.

And because I likely won’t get myself to post this weekend among all of the goings-on, here is a lovely picture of my mom to celebrate her nearly 30 years of hanging out with me.

 

Enjoy this one chickadees, we’ve earned this weekend!

this pretty little scene

Morning, chickies!

And welcome to the middle of the week.

That happened fast, didn’t it?

So far, I’m enjoying warmer temperatures, sunny skies, and a new haircut.

A new haircut pretty much solves the world’s problems.

This could be because the man who cuts my hair is one of my favorite people on the planet (and also maybe because they serve me wine while I hang), but the why doesn’t matter so much.

Also: yesterday morning, right after promising to turn my attitude around, I ran into this pretty little scene:

 

That’s enough to cheer up anyone, chickadees.

Up today: one day at work, and one confirmation service for tiny baby little KD, who’s apparently getting older every second.

I wanted to get her a new cross bracelet I’ve been admiring, but it turned out it was sold out online.

I asked JW if he’d stop by Nordstrom after work to see if he could find it, and he agreed.

An hour later, I got to work, and had several IMs from my husband.

He had done extensive research on the bracelet, calling several stores, including one in the suburbs that would have taken him an hour to get to by train.

I would have done it, he let me know.

I think KD’s his favorite, you guys.

In any case, he was able to find a suitable replacement, which he picked up by noon.

I can’t really blame him, KD’s my favorite too.

Enjoy the sunshine, chickens!

 

ready to get ready

Morning, chickens.

And welcome to another warm day.

It seems that we’ve finally hit our stride.

Now let’s see if we can keep it this way.

I spent yesterday riding slow trains, trying to concentrate, and hitting up hot yoga.

It was the kind of day I never quite got a handle on.

This became particularly clear when I managed to kick myself during yoga simply stepping forward.

You can’t win ‘em all, chickadees.

However, after a (clumsy) yoga practice, listening to some Pandora, ditching television for the night, and getting eight hours of sleep, I’m ready for this one.

We’re about to hit the month of May, which means 31 days until I hit the road for 14 days of work travel, pack up my apartment, and come back to a new address.

Luckily, I’ve got a quick, fun trip to Vegas in the middle of all of that- there’s nothing like breaking it up with some reckless abandon.

I’m ready for a month of getting ready, pals.

And now I’m off to (patiently, I hope) deal with the construction that’s slowing down my ride into the city.

Enjoy this one, chickens, I know I will!

 

please shine down on me.

I’m making this one quick, chickadees.

I may have had too much fun yesterday, resulting in lots of laughs and an early bedtime.

I don’t regret that it’s got me moving a little bit slower than usual this morning.

Also a delight: the sun finally made an appearance this weekend, along with seasonal temperatures, clearing the way for soccer game watching, bonfire having, and deck sitting.

All things I’ve been waiting (im)patiently for during the past few months.

So in the absence of well-placed words this morning, here’s what the weekend brought to me.

 

 

That’s how you enjoy two days off, chickens.

Next up, a day at work, a hot yoga studio, and trying to make my home look a little bit less like a crack den.

Things get weird when you’re in the midst of something new, chicks.

It’s time to get things organized over here.

Enjoy this beautiful start to the week, everyone!

getting right into it.

Morning chickens!

And welcome to a brand new week.

Yesterday was a lovely respite in this otherwise still.pretty.bleak spring season that we’re having.

Friday is threatening snow flurries, and I’m really having a hard time wrapping my head around that one.

All this rain better make for one beautiful, green summer.

That is all I can say about that.

However, in the spirit of keeping it positive, and also, you guys, at least it’s not 25 degrees out, I give you the following:

 

It’s good advice, chickadees. And what I have is one lovely weekend complete with condo hunting, sunshine, soccer, bells, celebrations, and dinner with my mom and dad and baby brother.

Also one long, lazy afternoon in which I finished the entire first season of Girls (and yes, it’s my favorite thing), and rifled through old papers and pictures under my bed. Here’s one of the gems I found:

 

Yes, the sweatshirt is awesome.

I know it.

Also found: rules for a happy bedroom written by Jennie and I circa 1995, a letter I wrote my roommates’ when we graduated from college, and original artwork by Aus when he was eight.

Also, a note he wrote me from his second grade class. Of course, original anything by tiny Aus made me burst into tears, because when did he get so old?

In any case, chickens, I have a whole host of beautiful, amazing things that are propelling me into this week with a good attitude.

Despite the rain.

I’ve got an umbrella, after all.

Enjoy this one chicks.

shake wake break it or quit you

Morning, chickens.

It’s a rainy day over here in the second city.

My hands seem to be protesting the rain, or at least that’s what I’m assuming today’s joints are brought to me by.

Last night, I headed to hot yoga, and when I was signing myself in, my instructor (who is one of my favorite people on this earth) stopped my pal and I and let us know how strong we’d gotten since we started our practice.

Which was music to my ears, chickadees, because one of the most irritating part of my adventure in RA is that I don’t always feel in control of my own body.

I try to remind myself that with my lifelong coordination struggle, I’ve never really had much control over it, but that doesn’t always help when I’m trying to stretch out and just can’t.get.there.

I spend a lot of time looking around the room and fixating on all the things I’d maybe be able to do if my limbs would just listen to me.

Instead though, I spent 90 minutes last night focusing on all the things that I can do, instead of shooting jealous looks at my classmates who make everything seem easy.

And it turns out that while right now I am not the runner of half marathons or the bendiest of yogis, there’s still approximately one millon things I can do now that I couldn’t four months ago.

And so, the thought of the day, from my favorite historical figure, is as follows.

 

Do I wish the treadmill didn’t scare my knees into submission? Of course.

But then, chickens, what if I’d never learned to do a headstand?

spring in my step

Hey there chickadees!

Sorry I’m a little late this morning, but we’ve got the day off over here, so I slept in before packing it up and getting ready to go to MI for a few days.

Sometimes it’s best to leave the concrete jungle behind you for just a few hours.

I’m a firm believer in switching up your scenery for a change in perspective.

In other news: thanks for all the information about being gluten free yesterday, chicks. I received a whole slew of texts and messages about the pros and cons of all of this, and I’m taking it under consideration.

It seems my people know a lot more about this than I do, which honestly, is a relief.

It’s nice to have resources, you guys.

My bossy little sister has already set up a Pinterest Board for me around acceptable foods for my RA.

Check it out here.

And now, I’m off to finish packing, supervise JW’s idea of acceptable weekend wear, and hit the road for a weekend of blue skies, fresh air, and visiting family.

Not much to complain about from this angle, my friends.

Enjoy the sunshine if you’ve got it (and we’ve got it, today).

 

 

shifting to a sunnier place

Morning, chickens.

The sun is shining so brightly for this early, and it has me convinced that today is gonna be a good one.

This week has been a fairly quick-moving string of days, ending for me this afternoon and leaving me with a long weekend for heading to MI and visiting family for Easter.

It’s good to leave the city limits once in awhile to get a little perspective, chicks.

Although, this is one beautiful place.

 

In other news, I’ve been spending the past few days trying something that I think might be a little crazy: I’m trying the gluten free thing.

Not because I want to, chickadees.

Let’s be clear.

However, the more research I do about my currently unmedicated RA (I like nothing more than a rogue chronic illness, you guys), the more I think I might be able to get it under more control with a little elimination experiment.

You know, since trying things the conventional way with medication left me covered in hives, and also, not better.

Yeesh.

My first plan involved giving it a week, but a friend suggested that perhaps one week wasn’t long enough to get a good snapshot.

Unfortunately, I agreed, and so I’m down my favorite food group for the next three weeks, which is basically bread.

So far what I’ve noticed: I’ve eaten more vegetables than ever in the past three days (awesome), but I also still want a bagel.

One step at a time, right?

Enjoy this sunshine chickadees, it’s a beautiful day out there.

 

with a light step

Morning, chickadees.

And welcome to the start of a new week.

Last week was a little bit rough, but after a lovely weekend of visiting with B, taking in the sites of Chicago, hanging with the S family, relaxing on the couch, and hanging out with my family, I’ve got plans for things to go more smoothly.

On Saturday, JW, B and I headed to my all time favorite place, which is the Museum of Science and Industry.

If you haven’t been, take the day off and get there immediately.

It’s my personal favorite because it’s acceptable to touch almost everything, and also, to be as loud as you need to be.

Such a relief, if you ask me.

 

The U-505 is literally the best thing I’ve ever laid my eyes.

Nothing like a little WWII submarine story to make your afternoon better.

And now, with one hundred lovely moments under my belt from the past two days, I’m ready to make another go of a jam-packed (though short-by-one-day) week that’s filled with meetings, yoga, goodbyes, and a trip to MI towards the end of it.

Spring’s a time for new things, chickens.

We’ve just got to remember that’s actually a good thing.

 

spring is the time of plans and projects

Morning, chickens.

The sun’s shining, and even though it’s not even thirty degrees today, it’s the first day of spring, and that means we’re marching toward something a little brighter. My friend MC took this beautiful picture the other day, and it’s really a light spot in my is-it-ever-getting-warmer musings.

 

Maggie Cassidy, capturer of beauty

Last night, my pal LM convinced me to head to the gym, even though it was really the last thing I felt like doing after a long, frustrating-at-the-end day.

I’ve been having too many of those kind of days, you guys.

Anyway.

I hit the treadmill again, and again, it was not pretty (not even in the least), but I’m just going to keep on trucking.

Eventually, my legs are going to remember what it is to keep moving for more than three minutes.

Until then, I’m gonna be patient.

I’m probably not actually going to be patient, but I do promise to at least try not to overdo it and hurt myself.

Moving slowly is hard work, chickadees.

Up today: work, work, work, getting ready for B’s weekend visit, and heading to the most needed bells class in recent history.

Sometimes, a diversion in attention in the form of a tiny, loud, encouraging Russian is just what you need to get everything back into the place it needs to be.

Let’s cruise through this one to the other side, pals.