So Many Things To Talk About

I literally spent the entire morning walking. For 2 hours and 16 minutes, 8.05 miles, I enjoyed the scenery in this beautiful town. For the first time, I branched out and actually took in what I was looking at, really seeing it all. I parked my car at the park where I usually do, but instead of heading out onto the park path, I went the other direction towards town. Along the way, I was able to smell, hear, see the water and feel the breeze coming off the bay and really look at all of the beautiful houses. I came across an almost hidden path down to the shore, went down it, and just stood there for a minute and looked. I also found a memorial park that has the American and California flags flying (at half-mast today, obviously) and I took a moment there, as well. When I turned around and headed back to the park, I decided not to do my usual. I, instead, followed the path that goes out into the marsh and brush where it was completely quiet. There was no one else out there with me, the clouds made it darker than usual and beautiful, and on my phone a piece of music began to play that was absolutely soothing. It was an amazing opportunity to relfect, be in peace, and remember what today's anniversary is. I actually began to cry a little because of everything going through my mind coupled with the music and scenery. I took some deeps breaths and just felt so content and thankful. I know it sounds cheesy, but it happened. I just felt very calm. More at ease than I've felt in weeks.

clockwise: the flags at half-mast, the hidden path, and what I was in the middle of and looking at on that path in the brush.

This week I've been on kind of an emotional roller coaster and have just been feeling down and more homesick than I ever thought possible. I've been homesick from time to time since I moved, but it has been overwhelming for the past couple of weeks. I've cried, talked to my mom about all of it, and over-eaten to the point of hating myself. But when I woke up this morning, I had a completely different attitude and felt more at ease and at peace than I have in weeks. I usually try to get through my daily exercise as quickly as possible in order to get back to the house so that I can get back to being lazy and to enjoy the empty, quiet the house but today, I enjoyed so much being out there and breathing in my surroundings. I didn't care or even notice how long I'd been going. I had slipped into a funk, but I'm quickly climbing back out of it. I am unfortunately an emotional eater and the first half of this week was a doozy, but now that I'm feeling more on the upside, I'm having a much easier time controlling my appetite. It definitely helps my mindset looking back at my fitness app record and seeing that I burned 875 calories today (walked to and from the school to get Isa added another 3/4 of a mile and 75 extra calories burned). I had to do something to make up for the past couple of days and I really feel like today was a sort of therapy for me.

On a much happier, less somber note, we have begun the moving process! This past weekend, I got my new bathroom completely set up, moved all of my shoes, most of my hang-up clothes, pictures, and wall hangings. It definitely makes me feel better actually putting my own things into that room and planning out where I want things to go. It's also really exciting that my closet is super big and my bathroom is awesome, ya know, without the toys falling all over me and boy pee all over the toilet, going in and having everything be exactly where I left it, and no towels on the floor. I've even had the chance to use the new shower a couple of times and let me tell ya, it's wonderful. It's so spacious and doesn't have an annoying curtain blowing in on me that I have to anchor down with shampoo bottles. It's the little things, guys. The new house really is incredibly beautiful and the views are ridiculous.

                          Sunset from the back patio and some pics from my bathroom.

Told ya. I can't wait to be completely moved over there and it shouldn't be too much longer until that happens. Adele talked about possibly having the beds moved over this weekend, so we may be sleeping there very soon. She's orded brand new couches for the living room and after seeing the picture of them, I'm ecstatic! They're gorgeous, dark brown leather and each end reclines. Ah. The current "couch" is actually a futon and it is grotesquely uncomfortable. Like, I don't think you understand. I wish I could think of something to compare it to, but nothing horrible enough comes to mind. I'll be much more inclined to hang out in the living room more since it won't give me back issues...It could really become easy to seclude myself once we move since my space is so separated from the rest of the house, but I don't want to let that happen. I want to hang out with the kids and spend time with the whole family, but in this house right now, it's hard for me to want to because the layout sucks and the furniture is terrible. It's no excuse, but it's all I've got. I'm ready for it to feel as if we live in a real home rather than just a temporary house. I feel at home with the family, but not in this structure. It's definitely time to get more permanent. 

I want to apologize for my absence for the past week and a half. Like I said, I've been down and emotional and exhausted and just in a somewhat foul mood. I'm over it now and I'm back. To kind of catch you up with where I am in the exercise department, let's talk about last week. Monday- 5.41 mi
Tuesday- 5.5 mi
Wednesday- 3 mi
Thursday- 5.5 mi
Friday- 3.28 mi
22.69 miles and approximately 2,815 calories burned for the week. 

That feels pretty good to look at. One of my favorite features of the Mapmyfitness app is that every Sunday, it emails you your "greatness at a glance" (that's what the weekly report is called and I love it). It tells you how many miles and hours logged, average pace, and calories burned for the week. It's really uplifting to see it all added up like that and to think back on what you accomplished. Because last week was so full and because I'm a girl and things happen...I'm taking it a little easier this week. My body is fatigued and I'm mentally unable to push myself as I normally do. I'm pretty much just walking this week, though I did run here and there during today's outing just to kind of break up the monotony of just walking and it gave my legs kind of a re-energizer. I'm having some soreness in my left knee again and have been having problems with the main joint of my right big toe, so to keep from further injuring myself, I'm not going to over-work. I have more time to take in what's around me and more time to enjoy beautiful music. I may do the same again tomorrow, honestly. It was an incredibly enjoyable and peaceful morning. I feel right, y'all. I feel right.

P.S. This is the beautifully peaceful piece of music that I was listening to when I was out on the path (was used for my favorite piece from this season of "So You Think You Can Dance").
ENJOY
Ya know what, I really just wanna share that too, so here. Seriously, you should watch that. They really do seem like they're underwater! Stunning. It makes me cry every time I watch it.