JZ, you humble me. I would say the very same about _you_. I wish I could hug you.

It amazes me that the rough start was 9, count them, 9 years ago. At any other point in my life, I'd have said that I am absolutely NOT a joiner. I'm so grateful that I _did_ join this community and even more grateful for the wonderful things that have come of it.

The ringer on my phone is off, so I didn't hear someone calling a bit ago. The caller id says "Fraudster."

Now, who in their right mind would answer that call? The area code is somewhere south of Seattle.

Curious.

I really need to start the yoga again, if for nothing else but the flexibility. But I don't have floor space that doesn't get filled with something, and I hate going to the gym to do something I should be doing at home. I guess I need to figure out what I can do in the space I can carve out. Possibly just the standing poses for now.

The dog used to love when I did yoga, and would do all the stretchy poses too.

But he does not like cardio much and he hates hates strength training. Because of my distress, I think. It's okay, dog! It's good for me!

I pull out my hoop and Cagney behaves as if I'm about to torture him. It's never even been near him!

I could see it if it has fallen on him at some point because he's a wuss. But no. No excuse at all.

Trudy, I'm glad your step-mother's doing better.

Just got off the phone with a friend (formerly friend-with-benefits) of mine. Totally bombshelled me with the news of his engagement. He and another female friend decided that as close as they were, they'd like to see how things would go if they took it up a notch - apparently they went well. And now he's talking about getting married next April. He's apparently forgotten that he was MY Plan B (5 or 6 years ago we agreed that we would get married if we were both still single when I was 40 and he was 45 - though I wasn't actually planning on enforcing the pact). I've always kinda wondered if we'd ever get around to trying for reals - guess not. I've been prodding at my feelings the way one does a bruise or a loose tooth - test it, see if it hurts - and it really doesn't hurt, thankfully. But I'm overwhelmed with feelings of WTH, or something.

Anyway, don't even need hugs, really. I just sort of needed to write out my feelings about my current headspace. Thanks for letting me.

I'm glad your step-mom is doing so well, comparatively. I hope things keep getting better too.

Yeah, that's a little complicated, Epic. I am glad it's not ouchy for you.

Continued ~ma for your stepmother and family and you, Trudy.

I have had... a not very good day. I did manage to go to Walmart (not my favorite place, but nearby for what roomie and I needed) and the bank. My shoulder is *killing* me and I think I overcaffeinated (switched back to dark roast with chicory from medium without, and drank two cups) which added to the pain have created a panic attack. Heating pad and acupressure aren't doing anything. I'm going to get my first lesson in Alexander technique next week, which I'm hoping will help but will likely require a number of sessions. Blergh.

Whoa, Epic. Yeah. That kind of thing can definitely mess with the brain.