Susanne

Yesterday was a most pleasant day, and I’m chuffed that I managed the 8K of running and the 10K of biking without feeling bad at any point. At the end of my bike ride home I had the feeling that yes, my legs had done enough for the day but I’m not even sore today.

The new spinning meeting was great, very nice people, and it was warm and sunny so we could sit outside on the patio spinning. I even stayed longer than planned which I only rarely do. So I’ll definitely be back.

Today I’m hoping for a slow day, I want to knit, and read, and not do much. I can feel a cold coming, and I’d like to stave that off as much as possible.

The idea for the new novel is percolating in the back of my mind while I’m thinking about story structure, turning points and crises.

There are no cookies left today, the met with wild approval. Maybe I’ll make waffles this afternoon, we’ll see.

I’m really looking forward to a day off.

So yesterday was a really busy day as planned. I did record the English podcast episode in the morning, even though my voice was not in the best shape, and then, just when we were about to leave for lunch, I got an email from my sister and a phone call from my aunt telling me that my mother had to go to the hospital the day before.

Nothing life-threatening, she hurt her back, and they will only be able to tell what’s wrong after Monday because they need to do an MRI, and the very small hospital she’s at doesn’t do MRIs every day. I’m very grateful for my sister and aunt keeping me in the loop because my father is not the type of person who’d call in a situation like this. These are the times when sometimes I wish I lived a little closer to my family but then if I did live a little closer I would have to be right in the middle of all these people trying to communicate and figure things out, and failing. And I would probably feel obligated to look after my father who will be completely able to care for himself for a few days. And my aunt is checking in on him and on my mother as well.

So guess what? I did not clean anything yesterday. I know, shocking. Also the most important thing right now, I know.

The rest of the day went pretty well, we had Chinese and sushi at the restaurant near us, and the owner remarked on how tall the boy has grown, and about how his voice has changed, and then I went back home, and taught a student, and then I phoned my aunt and tried calling my mother, and then I taught some more, and I was so confused that I forgot to remind my last student to pay for her lesson (I did put a post-it in her file, though, so I can remind her next time.), and then I talked to my mother on the phone who did not sound as loopy as I would have thought with all the painkillers, and then we had dinner, and the boy and I watched another episode of „Star Trek: The Next Generation“ (one with Q that was really excellent), and then I baked cookies for the spinning meeting today, and then I went to bed way too late.

I only slept for 6 1/2 hours but I got 3 hours of deep sleep according to my sleep tracker, so yeah? I guess? Have a cookie to distract you:

Today there will be running, and then I’ll take off for the meeting. I already have my spinning stuff and my purse packed, I only need to add the cookies and a spindle. I am also participating in the „Herbstlesen“-event again even though I don’t really have the time for that today. On the other hand I have already spent about 90 minutes reading because I woke up before 6 am, and it’s 8 right now.

Tomorrow is blissfully empty, no appointments (well, we could go out to brunch to meet people but I guess we won’t), only a little puttering around and some singing to do. I guess I’ll need that.

I just tried to turn my laptop on to write my daily post but it itsn't booting properly. I've been waiting for this computer to die on me for more than a year now. I hope it isn't quite time yet. I has been somewhat quirky but functional. Which is okay if you remember that this computer is more than seven years old. (And now that I'm typing this (on the tablet) I find that the laptop has decided to boot after all. Phew. I can do most things on the tablet but I can't record a podcast on it which is what I'll be doing this morning. At least if everything goes as planned.

Yesterday I was pretty good, the only thing I skipped was the strength training. I guess I have to find a different way of doing it because after running, teaching, and doing other work all day by 6.30 I'm rather reluctant to do something strenuous before getting dinner.

I did learn some things about how to market books, though, I did watch a video I had been wanting to watch for weeks, and I finally found all the lyrics to the songs I want to record for my mother's birthday and printed them out. Baby steps all the way. Same with the novel I want to write in November, I now have a document in Scrivener with parts that say “beginning”, “middle A”, “middle B”, and “ending”. Very important steps for sure.

And I managed to go to bed almost on time, and can now say that according to the last days' experiments every time I turn the lights out at 9.30 I will get enough sleep, every time I turn the lights out at 10 I don't. I have no idea why I wake up an hour earlier after turning the lights out half an hour later but that's what it is. It does remind me of the days when I still had a toddler who found it impossible to fall asleep. Often when we tucked him in a little earlier falling asleep would be much easier for him.

Though I have to say that I don't have any problems falling asleep. According to my sleep tracker it takes me 11 minutes every night without fail. Unless I'm seriously overtired, then it takes four.

I know, sleep is just so fascinating. Well, it is when you're not getting enough.

Today will be extra, extra busy but fun (I hope). I will attempt to finally record the next English episode of the podcast, go to the Asian place around the corner for lunch with my husband and son (which I've been looking forward to for days now), then teach a lot, in between do some cleaning (wish me luck), then listen to the podcast so I can publish it tomorrow, then watch something on TV with the boy while my husband goes to the city to see a free improvisation concert, and then bake cookies for tomorrow's spinning meeting.

And then go to bed on time.

Should be completely doable if I don't spend all my time on the internet.

We'll see how that goes.

Yesterday was a full day, I was not lazy and still didn’t manage everything I wanted to. Which is alright. I even went to bed early and slept a little more than eight hours. Bliss!

I did print the revised novel two out and the rough draft of novel three (which still lacks an ending, I know what will happen, I just couldn’t bring myself to write it). They make nice satisfying piles of paper on my desk. Novel two is still too short but I’m thinking maybe I should trust my former self about the first version not being good enough. I’ll reread both, though. I only have no idea when I should do that.

Time is really my biggest problem. Doing more of everything is working in a way but doing more of everything while getting enough sleep, and exercise, and keeping the house in a semblance of order – tough. (And no, hiring a cleaner is not an option. First, cleaners cost money that I don’t want to spend, and second, a cleaner won’t do my dishes or laundry or tidy the house. Actual cleaning costs me between one and two hours a week, and that should be easily found if I stop spending so much time online.)

Which is a challenge I’ve been thinking about for a while now, going offline – or mostly offline – for some time. I’m too chicken to do it at the moment, though.

Not drinking alcohol is going well, and last night I didn’t even binge on food. Yeah me! At the moment I don’t even have cravings for beer much but I’m sure that will change once I’m sitting in front of TV on Friday night because that’s traditionally accompanied by the first beer of the weekend. Well, I’ll just substitute an alcohol-free beer instead.

We won’t go to the Greek restaurant soon, though, because they whip out the ouzo even before you’ve properly entered the premises, and a bike tour to a beergarde on Sunday is out for similar reasons. So we’ll go and have Chinese for lunch tomorrow, less temptations.

Today there will be another 5K run, quite a bit of teaching, and then I hope to finally get started on my mother’s birthday present. I’m so behind, it’s not funny anymore. Somewhere in between I will have to find time to clean parts of the house, and maybe change the sheets. Also do fifteen minutes of strength training, and continue my „going to bed early“-streak.

This will be really exciting for sure! Stay tuned!