Hell’s Half Acre

I’ve just spent a couple days holed up in the trailer which really, is a shame on so many levels.  Since January I have not been able to run injury-free.  I honestly don’t know what to do at this point but the most obvious option is simply not an option.  I will not stop running.  I don’t know how I got to this point.  I was a swimmer all my life – AAU (yes, the old days) and then Master’s competitions.  Then I dallied in triathlons and even completed a 1/2-Ironman length one at one point.  I moved from the longer tris to cycling and was climbing mountains and cycling 100K’s through my 6th month of pregnancy with Jesse before moving inside and riding rollers until around the 8th month when I stopped.  But I really never saw myself as an athlete.  Back when I could have been considered one, when I went to international invitational meets and swam with Olympians and did mental training (along with dry-land and double workouts) I really was just going along with the flow.  After writing all that out, I suppose I was something of an athlete.

But then came 4 kids and at least 50-60lb and I morphed again into “mom” and there I’ve been for 15 years.  Last year I started getting sick of being fat and I dropped 13 kilos without too much trouble by walking and watching what I ate.  Since January of this year I’ve been running and trying to get to a 10K length of run but keep getting hammered by injuries.  My damn calf muscle just won’t cooperate with my wishes and while I’ve dialed my speed from a 10 min/mile to 11-12, I won’t entertain the thought of not running.

So I injured it again a week or so ago, and I’ve been pissing and moaning for the past 2 days thinking “woe is me” because I can’t run.  What a waste of 2 glorious days on the Caribbean.  So I’m back to walking for the next couple weeks until it heals (again) and I do the injury dance again.

My boys CUT THEIR HAIR!  Well, they actually had ME do it, but my curly, golden, long-haired boys cut their beautiful hair and it is short.   Pike looks absolutely HANDSOME and Jesse, who could never look anything but GORGEOUS looks like he’s aged about 5 years.  The cut really flatters him (if I do say so myself) but I really miss his golden locks.  He’s had hair down to the middle of his back for many years now and he looks like a different kid.  Well, honestly, young man.  Both boys are doing amazingly well in Judo and I kiddingly banished Jesse from Judo when he told me he wanted his hair cut DUE to Judo.  Can’t wait to hear what the kids say when they see him.

We’re almost certain that the boys and I will road-trip back to the US for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary (and our annual visit) and I am trying REALLY hard NOT to spend a month or two driving back.  There is SO much I want to see that we’ve missed in Mexico.  Right now, I’m thinking of heading up to Merida to visit Jonna and Mimi; then to Uxmal with a night in Ticul, then either to take the Emerald Coast route to Poza Rica and over into the Bajito or head over to Cordoba and Orizaba and meander about in the hills and valleys of those amazing volcanoes.  And then, where to exit?  We’re hoping to meet up with our friends Jody and family in the 4Corners area (Durango/Chama, etc.) but at the rate I want to leave the country we’ll never make it out.   Our last trip down the Emerald Coast I really wanted to explore the missions along the road from Xilitla to Pachuca and I’m also dying to explore Bernal.  So who knows.

We’re starting to think that we’ll never move the trailer out of here and are thinking of permanently settling it in, but that will be AFTER we rennovate Merida.  We’ve decided to start working on the Merida house when we return from the US and I’m really looking forward to Merida in the winter.

After taking 7 months off of my MT (medical transcription) studies, I’m almost done with the 18-month course and wondering if I’ll find a job.  Gulp.  I’m also starting to study for the FSOT as that is about a 2-year process, but our next family goal.  If nothing else, I’m never bored.  And that can only be a good thing.  And now, I’m ready for another cup of coffee.  How bout you?

The mosquitoes are getting so horrifically bad I can’t imagine them worse.  I’m sure they were this bad last year, but they are INSIDE as well as outside and l was up at 3am this morning with bites all over my arm.  I hate those little fuckers and can’t imagine that Jonna and Mimi are having a worse time in Merida.  I wonder if I think this every year.  At any rate, I’m seriously thinking of wrapping the palapa in mosquito netting.  Really.  Srsly.

I wanted to end this with a huge brag on my eldest.  Being the eldest, he normally is first in all things, best at all things he gives an effort to, and everyone else plays catch-up.  But since the boys started Judo it has become more and more obvious that Pike has a real talent there.  Not sure if it is all athletics or just Judo, but he really shines at the studio.  So much so, that the other day the sensei congratulated him heartily and the entire class has on occasion recognized his efforts with cheers and encouragement.  Neither Jamie nor I were around when the sensei gushed at Pike and Jesse was the one who let us know.  He was so full of pride for his brother’s accomplishment that he was bursting to tell us as soon as he could get it out.  He was completely able to put himself and his “first-borness” aside and revel in his brother’s accomplishments and not only feel great pride in what Pike had done, but couldn’t wait to let us know about it.  I couldn’t love him more for that or feel more proud of both boys.