Be the change you want to see.

Working out is *fun*.
Tal seems to grok that a) bodyweight exercises are both more appropriate for the shape I'm currently in (ROUND is a shape!) and b) that mixing it up, making each workout different, is the most engaging.
I don't think we have done the same exercise twice yet, barring warmup on the fitness center stairs.

 

bless her. I admitted I didn't do my homework between Wednesday and today (was supposed to do an hour of something cardio and an hour of yoga, oy, that's a lot!).
She asked, semi rhetorically, "what am I supposed to say to that?" in her slight accent.

 

I said mildly, "Say, 'do better next time'."
So she did, exactly so.

 

*smile* I don't know if I will be able to do all of the next batch of homework, she wants me to do two cardio and one yoga (Monday and Tuesday classes I've been trying to attend anyway) so if I can fit one cardio in over the weekend I'll be set.
she also wants me to eat five times a day.
I like how that makes me feel when I do it, so I will definitely try. I'm up to twice today, and I will see how it goes.

 

Balance work is crucial, I was very weak and noodly-muscled when I tried the various balancing exercises Tal asked me to do. Core strength also needs work.

 

well, that IS why I'm working with her. Because I know I need help to get back to a habit of fitness and flexibility.

 

This is the diagnosis phase, where we find out what I'm capable of while simultaneously working to IMPROVE what I'm capable of.

 

Forward Momentum!

For one thing, we got one of our favorite lecturers back, so that was great.

Then after Recorder and lecture, I went back to the barn with a bunch of people (like 10, we had an alumnus stay over for the night)...

however.
Before we went back to the Barn, we went out to the Bar.
*wry*
I had a suspicion that was what was planned; they've talked of doing this for other Birthday Celebrations, (and it was the Celebration for Mary as well) so I wasn't totally unprepared.

I had already discussed the sobriety-plan before school with my friend Mauricio (who is kinda a pothead, but whatever) and with another friend, and wound up soliciting Joanie and Sarah for support as we were walking up to the door of the bar. Nothing desperate, I was relaxed, but people knowing what's going on with me, felt like it would be more than half the battle. Joanie said, well, I know they serve tea, and I'll just have tea with you.

<3...

So I had Lemon Zinger, and she had Apple Cinnamon, and I talked briefly with the bartender about going for my 30-day chip (which I should be eligible for Wednesday). He was supportive - he asked what was my goal; I need to work more on verbalizing what exactly IS my goal; right now it's an exercise in Will/willpower.

To return to the first bit, both flavors of tea went admirably with the OMG ginger-cake with little BEESWAX birthday candles on top (Yeah, Jessica blew them out and saved them, no surprise here)... the cake was so GOOD and quite honestly unexpected, and I'd had a sniff of Sarah's beer (a new brand for me) and Evangeline's hot toddy (I think it was rum and lemon), so most of curiosity was satisfied...

But the cake? no pun, no lie, that fed me and Fed Me better than any booze would have done. And sharing it and the recognition, was beautiful too. I got a bead bracelet from Willow, a little beeswax taper from... I think it was Sarah, and a teeny little holder for it; a cool 4-in-1 color pencil from Mary, who brought one for everyone, and a handmade card from two more people... Evangeline... and... I need to check. (memory test)

and they sang us (or we sang us, cos I sang also) happy birthday, right there in the pub...

Here's the lyrics to the Waldorf birthday song:

We wish you a happy birthday
A joyous and celebrated birthday
To Our Dear Friend
May you have a joyful life!

We sing it once thru, straight, and then it becomes a round - it's gorgeous, truly.

After we ate and laughed and talked and listened (I need to do some more listening, but I'm not talked out yet...*sigh*) we cleaned up after ourselves and went back to the Barn, where we built a scary-hot fire in the woodstove that stands in the middle of the room (I discovered today that I did indeed singe my scarf-fringe on the stove last night!)... and I put on PJ's, laid out my bedding and Joanie offered to rub my feet. Which was bliss, truly. A light rose-oil scent... and I just relaxed, near enough to the fire to benefit from the light and warm. When she was done, (I hope I expressed my true thanks for the effort!) I put my socks back on, tucked into my bag, and started to doze off, with laughter and conversation nearby and the heat from the stove warming the top of my head.