Shuffle Off To…

…anyone a tap dancer out there?

I just realized it’s been a week since I last posted. I wish I had grand stories to tell you of amazing shopping trips and feasts worthy of foody magazines. Actually, I kind of do so maybe I’ll share those tomorrow. This past weekend most of my mother’s family congregated in Pensacola to celebrate the life of her mother, my Mamaw. She was laid to rest on Saturday…I don’t think I should use the term laid to rest though. She is in Heaven with a perfect mind and a perfect body just waiting for us to join her. Resting probably isn’t on her agenda. Dancing maybe. Shuffling perhaps. Marana tha.

My husband is going to have me shuffling soon as well. Not exactly the shuffling off to buffalo that I was doing whilst pregnant with Reagan. You should have seen me at tap class with my protruding stomach, trying to balance and look graceful. On second thought, no you shouldn’t.

This shuffle is tiny. And pink. He certainly knows me. It will match my iPhone but, I can’t really run with my iPhone can I? I’m trying to start running again. (Sheepish grin) Can I legitimately say that after having only run twice in two weeks? The last time I ran was last April (Accountability April one or two of you will remember) when I was determined to get in shape. I literally felt like my uterus was going to fall out.

You’ll be happy to know that this time no body parts were in danger of leaving their designated places. And I ran three miles(!) instead of that paltry one a year ago. My knees did feel like stiff putty though. And I was so sore I could barely move.

Yesterday I ran again and felt much better all around. I’m attributing this success somewhat to the fact that Du lent me his Nano and therefore I had something on which to concentrate other than my normal, “Lord, when will this be done? Breathe in, two three. Breathe out, two three. Breathe…jeez, when will I be done running already? Maybe if I count down…let’s see…I can’t have thirty more minutes left…so if I (huff, puff)…count down from…what would that be?…30 minutes x 60 seconds per minute…crap, I have a cramp…”

Yes, so, ahem, the music helped tremendously. My husband being the loving husband that he is surprised me today with my very own iPod Shuffle. Now I don’t have an excuse not to run. Did I mention that he gets all excited when I start exercising and begin the healthy living regimens? I really should start and stop these more often so he has a chance to get excited more.

This time I hope to make the healthy living shtick stick. I got my cholesterol level taken the other day and the number isn’t pretty. 238. I know! You’re shocked right? I was told to “make lifestyle changes”, which is a euphemism for stop eating and drinking all of the exciting things you’re used to and start eating and drinking all that boring stuff that tastes, oh, about like paper. Oh, and start excercising. I guess chasing after a two year old everyday isn’t enough. I’m trying to be determined because I know one of the number one killers of women in the US is heart disease. I don’t want that to be me. I want to be taken with the trumpets and not drop dead because I couldn’t quit eating M&Ms.

So, please say a prayer for me that I will start to enjoy running. That I will start to enjoy the taste of water and healthy food. That I will get that runner’s high or whatever you’re supposed to feel after running (when I ran cross country the best part of the race was the end. Not because I got a runner’s high but because the team went to eat an awesome meal that we didn’t have to pay for).  Just pray for me.

P.S. I forgot! I have to put some music on this Shuffle! I need good running music. Ideas?