Neglect

I'm neglecting this blog, I realize.

The proverbial pie-slicing is complicated. I know I need to make some choices and exercise some discipline regarding time management. I already have cut out tv, not that I watched much (and when Ugly Betty's back on, I'll be there.) I'm working 30 hrs a week and with Lincoln every bit of time I'm not at work, which leaves me with evenings free, after Linc's bed. That's often when we eat dinner together, or one of us goes out, or we do some housecleaning--not that you can tell, b/c our house is so very messy and dirty (the former connotes clutter/chaos, the latter dog hair, dust, and dead bugs).

I participate in an online community which is where I spend a lot of my free time (those evening hours, or stolen minutes at work), presumably at the expense of seeing friends in person. We socialize on the weekends sometimes, often with another couple/family/friend. I spend very little time doing anything alone--reading, writing, even talking on the phone or emailing. So this blog is neglected, and some projects I'd been working on are covered, metaphorically, in dust. I'm going to have to make some changes.

What's really fallen by the wayside is exercise. I used to get a fair bit of exercise most days--working out at the campus rec center probably 4-5x/week, plus a bike ride or walk to and from work. Now I manage maybe one workout every two weeks, tops, and the commute now involves taking Linc to day care, so the bike ride/walk doesn't work. When it cools down a bit, we'll bike ride between his day care and work, so that will add some exercise and save some gas. And, most notably, once it's cooler and the mosquitoes are gone, I/we can go on long fast walks with Lincoln in a carrier/stroller. Right now we can't do that, b/c he's asleep by 7, and before then it's too hot/bright/mosquitoed. I've never in my life gotten so little exercise. I miss it. My appetite is kind of eh, too, which I think is tied to the decreased exercise (and thyroid stuff, and hormone stuff, and all that.)

I usually love summer here, and much of it's been lovely, some wild storms and before it got wet, the nights were wonderfully temperate and mosquito- and ant-free, delightful for eating outdoors. Now it's too hot inside and too itchy outside. We have evaporative cooling, which keeps the house a comfortable 70 degrees in June, when it's 110 out with 9% humidity--but later in the summer, when it's in the 90s with humidity 50% or more, it's about 88 in the house.

But summer is still beautiful and evocative, even if I'm uncomfortable and pent up. Here's a photo from a recent storm--a dove taking flight after a huge lightning strike nearby.

Comments

[berrygirl]

what a gorgeous photo! i wish i had advice on how to get it all done, but i'm right there with you. working part time, trying to cram in other projects, not getting much of anything done....argh. on the plus side - linc is adorable! :)

[Kristen]

What a beautiful picture! Yeah I feel like you do, havent done anything for myself in quite a while. Daycare - work - dinner - bed sometimes I feel so generally overwhelmed by such little things too. How in the world do you get him to bed by 7:00??? ;) Hang in there, chug along, we're doing it and getting better at it everyday. 10 months went pretty fast huh?

[las.writer]

I have to say, it's always a comfort to read your entries. They make me want to yell, "YES! I'm not the only one!" You never knew me before the "mom physique" took hold, but I used to work out 5x a week at that same rec center prior to baby. I keep swearing I'll get back to 3x a week at ANY gym. Except my life is full of time suckage! My sister, the former body builder, says if the president has time to work out, so do I. I should be inspired--or guilted?--by that, but it just makes my incredibly fit sister even more annoying. :)

[MsPrufrock]

Where are yooooooouuuu?