Back on the Wagon

Last year I finally got a chance to go to Rancho La Puerta and it was everything I wanted and then some. I went into the week super healthy, with a solid routine of tennis, yoga and walks at least a few times a week.  However after the week of the Ranch, instead of solidifying my good habits, I completely fell off the wagon. All of my routines ended and for the past eleven months I have barely done anything more active than grabbing coffee in the kitchen between work calls.

This year, whether it was due to my lack of exercise at home or just a different mindset, I had a completely different experience at RLP. Of all the activities and events and classes offered, I didn’t repeat a single one from last year…okay I might have repeated one or two (stretch and sound healing, but for the sake of the story, we will go with none).

That means no yoga, Pilates, tennis or crazy new age shit. Instead my days were filled with relaxation, pool time and a lot of reading. I did manage to try a few new things including  ballet, self-defense, tai chi, drawing, water color, and a class on blue light and sleep. I also made it into the pool to swim laps and finally took a try at pickle ball.  I also attempted to take a weight lifting class but realized too late it was not barbells but in fact body pump, the class Martin and I used to take every Wednesday night before we had kids… it kicked my ass even more than I realized and left me limping for two whole days. Thank god for the handrails in the public toilets: I needed the help standing and sitting down.

And while I am not back to where I was last year pre-Ranch, I have managed to have a few more active days at home since getting back from the Ranch… including another at home Body Pump workout which left me limping again.

My attempt at drawing... I won't show you my watercolor work. As Erin kindly suggested, I should focus on drawing since watercolor didn't seem to be "my thing"

Early morning coffee at the top of Alex's Oak.  We woke up at 5:30am to make it up there for a sunrise coffee

Can't beat this view. Plus according to my blue light class, I should great the sun every morning for the best blue light. 

Blah

Languishing, quiet quitting, depressed, baby blues (just kidding, not that one). Call it what you want but I am in a funk, a rut, in a mood. I have the case of the Monday’s except it is every day and even the hopes of an upcoming vacation can’t fix this situation. If, 200 years from now, a social anthropologist read my blog to understand our society today I could imagine them thinking “man, this woman went from living her best life to being such a depressing and disappointing bore”. And to be honest, they wouldn’t be wrong.

Come to find out I am not alone. The New York Times has a great article about this and HBR did an article about all of the uncertainty in today’s world.

What I have realized... it all boils down to the fact that I normally get energized out of the daily routines by planning for and looking forward to upcoming events and trips.  And in today’s world, and too many cancelled plans, I have stopped looking forward to things in fear that they might get cancelled. 

The best example, Erin and I have had our trip booked to head back to Rancho La Puerta since in October of last year for September.  And I didn’t allow myself to get excited about it until the night before I actually left since I was afraid something would happen to make me cancel.

Spoiler alert: the trip didn’t get cancelled and was even better than I could have asked for.

Second spoiler alert: While my trip didn’t get cancelled, unfortunately the one Martin really wanted and needed had to be cancelled. Not due to covid but due to lack of power. Martin had planned a week-long stay at Timber Cove but our solar power system inexplicably was drained of power when we arrived Saturday night and refused to charge the following day (due to the overcast skies). Unwilling to be stuck on the coast without power for a week was just too big of a risk and one he was not willing to take. Here’s to hoping he gets a much deserved break soon too.

Not sure what the overall answer is, but I need to figure something out soon

When Did I Get to be So Old?

I know we live in a lively neighborhood.  It is one of the reasons why we wanted to live in North Beach.  I get it.  We live near some really fun bars and are surrounding by a whole bunch of twenty something year olds.  I guess we have just forgotten what it is like, between getting old, going to bed early and the quiet that came with the first few years of COVID.  But the young kids are back in town and ready to party. 

This past weekend, our newer neighbors reminded us of just how old we have become.  On Saturday night, our partying neighbors work us up.  To be fair it was only 9:30 (and yes we were already asleep) but I remember the days of having a few drinks with friends before going to the bars, so I wasn’t going to get mad, they should have some fun like we did.

The music was loud and, with our windows overlooking the alley and the echo effect of the nearby building, it was like we were at the party with them. But again I am not quite yet a curmudgeon and I figured it was just a pre-party before heading out. I even took the time to draft up a cute note to give them if the partying continued too many weekends in a row:

To our lovely neighbors who love good music and socializing with their friends. Please support your local bar by moving your party down the street earlier in the evening. We have supported the bar scene for the last 20 years and are ready to pass in the torch.

 

Your understanding but tired neighbors

As expected, they finally went to the bars at 11:40 (I would have appreciated a little earlier but so be it) and I must have finally fell asleep since the next thing I know I was woken up again at 1:50 to the pounding of music.  Cute notes and feelings of nostalgia couldn’t save them…I was done.

I got out of bed, grabbed my plush bathrobe and put on, dear god I am embarrassed to say it, my bright blue crocs and walked over to their house.  Can you just take a moment to fully embrace this moment.  15 years ago I would have been partying with them.  Now I was stomping over to throw ice water on their fun with sleep in my eyes, no make up, dragon breath, rats nest for a hairstyle and wearing bright blue crocs.

I walked over, knocked on the door and prepared myself for the confrontation, which went a little something like this:

 

Me: Please can you keep the music down? It echoes really badly in the alley

 

20 Year Old Boy: Yes ma’am.

 

Me: I normally wouldn’t care, but it is 2am and I need to sleep

 

20 YOB: Yes, ma'am, sorry ma’am for making you get out of bed

 

Me: Thank you.

I turned to head back to bad and upon seeing a few empty beer cans strewn across the alleyway and, in spite of myself, I turned around and said and can you please clean up those can sin the morning.

 

20YOB: Yes ma’am will do it tonight

What is wrong with me?!?

A perfect but Hot Weekend

Something something something… Labor Day 3 day weekend.

Rock climbing and ice cream

Giants game, a first for the kids, which I am pretty sure they only liked for the food.

Lunch at Granny Fran’s

I love my happy life and family.  Things are good.