Friday, December 20, 2024

Slow Motion

 #1-#2 - My car briefly made an awful sound when I started it Monday.  Since my dad died, I do not have someone in my life that knows about cars.  I had the thought for a while that I should find someone so when I do have an issue, I'm not adding searching to the stress.

Thankfully a couple months ago I did just that.  I brought the car in, without any issues, to a place my brother tried and had a good experience with for an overall check.

So Monday I didn't debate long.  I called that same place and made an appointment.  The issue did not reappear and the result of bringing it in was that it was probably a piston misfiring, but nothing to address for now.  They didn't charge me anything. I'm so grateful to have known where to turn instead of just "hoping" it was nothing, but carrying around fear beneath.

Having access like this is immense wealth. 

#3 - The car place is near my brother's so I met my nephew after school.  As I waited for him, he approached acting like (to my eyes a peacock), to his later explanation an ostrich, and kept up the acting for a few minutes before saying, "Hi Tammy."

#4 - Quote from that same nephew, "We read your holiday card yesterday and it sounded just like your identity explained."

#5 - My niece and nephew singing, "Meows" to the tune of some song they knew together. 

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Posner and Swimming

#1 - Rich Rolls second podcast interview with Mike Posner (see artist song on previous post).  I listened to the first hour yesterday and today I listened to minutes 50-60 a second time.  Also in the second hour there was a 10 minute section I listened to again, it was worth really letting it sink in. It reminds me of how we show up in the world is a reflection of what the people around us bring out.

For example, I have noticed how important when I'm writing a letter the recipient is to the content.  What emerges from me often needs the energy in some way from whom the letter is addressed to.

#2 - In the conversation a few times Mike said, "I had to" or "I have to," and then he would add, "I didn't have to, I wanted to."  That is a reframing I often make myself.

#3 - A good friend of mine's son recently decided to join the high school swim team.  This same friend had been a bit sad that they don't do as much together anymore as he is a teenager.  But she was on the swim team in high school and now they've been practicing together.  When she told me he had his first meet I responded, "Maybe I'll come."

I wasn't sure why I had the impulse, however it was nearby, if I've been to a swim meet I don't recall it, and I love supporting people trying new things.

#4 - At the meet I asked my friend, "Did you ever swim the longest race?" (500 meter)

 "Yes, do you remember Micah?" (We went to the same high school.)

"Yes," I vaguely remembered him.

"He walked up and down the pool cheering me on the whole time I swam that. I still remember that."

It is over 25 years later and my friend remembers a teenage boy who took 6 minutes of his life to cheer her on during hard race.

You just never know how small acts of showing up can matter.

#5 - Right Now by Mary Bue


Right Now

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Succinct and Pertinent


#1 - I TRIED TO GET THIS TO embed and be near the end, Minutes 1:05:55-1:07:19, but I'm getting frustrated and going to have to let that go.

Succinct and Pertinent - This couple minutes makes a lot of sense and synthesizes a few things (politically).

#2 - This time of year is in between exercise wise.  I don't jog or bike. I can't cross country ski..I have little patience for treadmills, but last year I discovered the "Sprint 8" workout. It is a 20 minute work out, but you walk most of it.  A warm-up, then 8 30 second runs, each followed by a 2 minute walk. I play soccer once a week and that involves sprinting and recovery.  I get excited to play and then I'm on the field and yikes, it's hard. So this is good for me.

So I'm starting to try and incorporate this Sprint 8 workout mid-week/Wed.  Today I could do it over lunch or, since my last family cancelled - around 5pm.  I was tempted to wait til 5. It was appealing to put it off, even though I knew I'd probably regret that.

But instead of arguing with myself, I told myself, "You can wait if you want," and I meant it.  And that allowance to not force it, made me walk over and do it, because I knew that would ultimately make me feel better.

#3 - After I got off the treadmill an older gentleman remarked, "You make me jealous. I can't do that anymore."

#4 - I listened to Womenfolk on KFAI community radio this AM and discovered a new artist - Antje Duvekot 
 
#5 -  The family that cancelled today said Wed no longer works for them.  I'm happy the day they picked is the other day I already work evenings, so now I can do all my late visits on the same day.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Bluewhisper

 #1 - I still like Latte ASMR and Gentle Whispering ASMR best.  However there are other voices I find soothing - Whispers Red, Falling UP, and most recently Bluewhisper.

#2 - I'm doing one evening home visit a week. During the visit we are supposed to ask the parents what they want to work on.  During my evening visit the mom has come to me with things to practice (she was told areas to work on during the kindergarten assessment). This makes me feel like we are a team, which is the whole point of the program.

#3 - Tuesdays is the one day a week the fitness center I exercise at has a 6:30AM class. I only get up slightly earlier to do that, but it is still a challenge, especially when my alarm wakes me in the middle of a dream about a big wave pool/ocean. I want to keep going, not only for the exercise, but because I want them to keep offering this time slot.

There is only 1 other woman who regularly attends with me.  I know people pay a lot of money for personal training, however that is not appealing to me.  I like the energy of others exercising with me, and in this case, at least the 1 woman who continues attending.

#4 - I picked up Ani Di Franco's memoir for some reading material this weekend.

#5 - Sometimes children and adult food preferences don't match.  However in the case of the Duluth Grill, my niece and nephew had a great experience there last year and enthusiastically want to eat there again thankfully.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Skating

 #1 - I had my third ice skating lesson tonight.  I probably took some sort of lesson when I was a little kid.  If my mom were alive she'd remember.  I know she enjoyed ice skating.  But as an adult tonight was my third actual "class" and I did my first crossover.  Last week we did the foundation for crossovers, which I didn't even know what they were but my lay man's definition is "real skating".  I caught on quick!  Backwards crossovers however, I think that is going to take a while.

#2 - We also tried "hockey stops" tonight.  I have always thought hockey stops are a bit sexy. The grace and power combined I guess.

#3 - When I walked out of skating I unexpectedly splashed in a puddle, I was wearing rain boots. I laughed.

#4 - I opened my pantry.  I thought, "This is wealth."

#5 - A meditative song -