I Am Not My Mother's Daughter

Yeah, so what.


My mother is quiet, predictable.  She doesn't like change.  She doesn't care for sports.  She's happy in her own, quiet place.  She's not adventurous.  She hates trying new things.  She avoids confrontation of any kind.  She doesn't learn new things easily, neither does she really want to. 


I, on the other hand, like to be impulsive.  Change doesn't bother me much.  I can't stand the same rut.  I love to watch and play sports whenever I can.  I'm restless; I love to travel.  New things are like attractive, shiny objects I must try, whether it be situation or tangible object.  No one likes confrontations, but I'll brave it without much hesitation.  I easily learn something new.  Actually, I always seek to learn something new because I feel my brain rotting without new knowledge of some/any kind.


That really makes me my father's daughter, I guess.


But she did give me some pretty awesome traits: we're mighty patient, kind, empathetic, giving, and share a talent for music.


So that's what I thought of when her birthday rolled around this January.  I bought her tickets to see Renee Flemming & the RI Philharmonic.  I knew she'd appreciate a fine orchestra paired with the best soprano of the moment.  I bought a pair of tickets, and told her to bring a friend, even though I knew she wouldn't, and I would chauffeur them.  But I gave her the chance, anyway, to attempt to do something different with someone else instead of myself.  As predicted, she preferred I go.


The performance didn't disappoint!  It was marvelous!  The selections were completely enthralling, powerful, emotional.  My mother was speechless throughout.  I could see her mind drifting back 50 years ago when she herself enjoyed music more personally and profoundly.  I wanted to give back a small part of a good episode in her life, and I think I managed to do that in a most positive way.


My hope my daughter will someday do the same for me.

Must...keep...resolutions!

Seriously, January's almost over, but I can barely believe it's begun.

So I ask myself, "Will I ever catch up with the present?"  Well, what's so bad about living in the past, right?

I'm forcibly posting in order to keep up with my resolution to start (and therefore) keep this blog going.  That was resolution number 5, I think.

Resolution number 1 is to finish what I start.  I don't have a problem with that.  I hate half-assed anything.  But in order for me to keep any subsequent resolutions, I know I had #1 to answer to first and foremost.

Resolution number 2 was something absurdly stupid, yet immensely gratifying.  If you haven't already played Words With Friends on your iPhone, iPad, or whatever else device...then what are you waiting for!  I've been playing it for some time, and am rarely beaten.  What an ego boost!  Well, until I encountered Erik Scalavino from Patriots Football Weekly on Twitter (@PFWErik).  He will beat you senseless.  So I resolved I would defeat this word champ, and defeat I did!  Yes, it only took, um, a bazillion games.  But I won!  The game immediately after my victory was the most humiliating defeat, though.  I'm glad I resolved to only win once.

Resolution number 3 was to hit the hay before midnight.  That isn't going so well, but at least I'm trying!  It works, like, 30% of the week.

Resolution number 4 is to run a 5K race.  There's no improvement in that department yet.  I still run 1 - 1.5 miles on the treadmill.  I need that number to go up.  I'm working on it.  But all the pilates, yoga, cardio, toning workouts are still going on as strong or better than before.  I just need to get into a running groove, you know?

Resolution number 5 is, as mentioned above, to start/keep this blog.  It all seems a bunch of nonsense now, I know.  The real reason to keep the blog is related to my daughter.  Those are some pretty immense posts I have yet to do, hoping to muster up the courage to share myself and this ordeal with the world.  I've been asked to do this for over a year, but haven't had any courage to do so until now.  That's when I decided 2012 would be a year for more courage, a year of change - not spare change - of which I will speak of.

Later.

So...

How are YOUR resolutions holding?

I Need a Reason to Run

Why? The list is so long, but primarily because it's one of my Resolutions (with a capital "R", mind you).

It's not like I haven't run before.  I exercise 3 - 5 times a week, anyway.  I just find it boring, mostly because it's me.  And only me.  Oh yes, and the treadmill. I long to run outside, but can't for what seem like infinite reasons.  So I run for a mile, up to 1.5, then stop, and not because I'm tired, but I stop out of boredom.

But my resolution is to run a 5K race.  Can I really stick to this one?  Where's my inspiration?  What's my motivation?  My own resolve?  Oops, I may have to find a better reason that that!

Oh, and a special mention to: Kit, John, and The Oatmeal who I inadvertently found out are runners only after following them on Twitter. You occasionally remind me to keep my butt running.  Thanks.

"In the beginning..."

...there was a longstanding resolution.
Then procrastination was king.
But now there's been a coup d'etat, and I've promised myself, as I did 5 years ago...

...that I would finally start my blog.

And I looked down upon it and said, "That's good."
No, "That's okay."