sibling-rivalry

inspite of the weather yesterday i went out for my lunchtime walk. i was the only one who braved the storm. i walked in snow 8 inches thick, which was difficult and slow going. i definitely got my heart-rate up. it was as though i was doing aquafit but in the snow instead. perhaps we could call it snofit. i managed to do one lap of the factory (i usually do 2) before giving up. freezing rain had begun and it felt like a thousand tiny knives on my face. why did i bother, you ask? well, because i've put on some weight - which i find very distressing. in my discouragement i remembered sarah's words from when she told me "if anyone can lose weight it's you" meaning that i've done it before, i can do it again. so i'm back on a workout regement. i walked at lunch and then went to the Y after work. i did 120 sit-ups, 15 minutes on the eliptical and a half hour on the treadmill. i felt pretty darn good about it too. unfortunately when i put my streetclothes back on my pants still felt too tight, but i reminded myself that i can't expect instant results. i'll keep up this routine 3 days a week - mon, wed, fri. it's probably best not to invite me to do anything before 6:30 on weeknights because for the next few months i'll have to decline. however i'll WANT to say yes, i'll be tempted to say yes, which is all the more reason that i'll need your help in not making plans for immediate after work. this morning when i woke up i felt good, everything felt a little bit tighter - excellent.

i've been working on my birthday/christmas list for my family. i've been a little hard-pressed to come up with gift ideas, and it makes me want to come up with really good stuff because i'll probably get what i asked for since my list is so short. the fact that i'm a little strapped for ideas has been neat, it just goes to show that i have everything i need. i have to admit, for years i felt resentment that i didn't get the same help as my contemporaries in setting up my home. a lot of the people around me had shower gifts, wedding gifts, house-warming gifts, and were given everything they needed. while i started from scratch and had hardly anything. but finally after 8 years of being on my own i've finally set up shop and i have everything i need/would've been given. i guess it just took a little longer. and actually, it feels pretty good knowing that by the time i get married i won't need anything and can have a gift-free wedding.

however, after yesterday's walking in the snow experience i would like a pair of snow-shoes. i might go to play-it-again sports and see if i can get a bargin on some.

i regret everything i raise my voice,
and it wouldn't be that bright of me to say i have no choice.