Lovely San Antonio Pig

Why so quiet?

I don't mean to be quiet. I'm waiting for something to say rather than sound like adults in Peanuts cartoons, "wah wah wah wah wah." Nobody enjoys reading that, so I'll spare you the blabbering.

I've been on the road a little bit too much in the last couple of months carrying with me considerable worry about funding and I'm tired. For a few days, Daisy and I were under the weather, experiencing simultaneous sneezing fits--comically pathetic and gooey. We're both feeling better and as I settle into a daily routine, I'm sure I'll have more to say.

Please do keep reading. It means so much to me that folks keep coming back to the blog. I have a stat counter program that keeps track of readership, and I love knowing that folks check in with me from time to time. I like knowing that a dozen people read the blog yesterday, or that readership is up, or even if it is down. I like hearing what you enjoy reading and what you don't really enjoy. Your messages and emails make me feel connected to you, and that's important to me.

ARGHHH

My office computer died, dead, gone last night. I managed to transfer all my files to my personal computer, but did not get my Outlook files and all your email addresses before the the death occurred. Would you mind sending me a quick email so I can rebuild to the following address? texasmountaintrail@gmail.com Thank you kindly; I do want to keep in touch!

Three Miles, then Four, then Five, then Six

At first it was impossible,
then tortuous,
then difficult,
then challenging (notice the emotional shift?),
then a measure of determination, patience, faith, self-forgiveness, guts
then routine,
then easy,
then no big deal.

Repeat the last four steps.

That's one of the things I like about running, every distance is a series of transitions and challenge and growth. But some days are just hard days, and the challenge is emotional not necessarily physical. There's a balance that must be played, between acceptance and forgiveness and just muscling through a challenge. I get as much from the reminder to NOT GIVE UP when I feel tired or cranky, as I do from the improvement in speed, muscle strength and lung capacity. Not giving up is, frankly, the hard part for me. But running keeps me fighting, and I like that.

Remembering the flow

Yesterday I drove all over the region on business, and as usual it was great to be OUT there in the frontier. There was the familiar stunning scenery. light and color, plus javelina, muledeer, pronghorn antelope, lots of raptors, and a lone steer inexplicably just ambling down the side of the road. I wouldn't say I'm getting jaded to the scenery, but it is getting familiar.

My drive was accompanied by a cd by Iowa Citians, Mike and Amy Finders. Though I've heard it over and over, I finally heard one of Mike's lyrics, "the river is only part water, the rest is flow."

That jolted me out of the comfort of the familiar.

Even surrounded by jaw-dropping beauty, I needed the reminder to see beyond the obvious, to see the effect of time and change, to see the verbs in life as well as the nouns.

This blog is called Second Mile to chronicle my new life here, but is it also about staying curious and thoughtful. Watching for the flow, that's what I want to do.