Pokey Recovery

Well, last week proved to be quite tiring in recovery zone. I was exhausted all week. My body felt fine, but I had no energy. I ran on Thursday and Sunday but that's it. I was busy all week and I am sure that was part of it.

I had an exciting day on Saturday. Friday the 8th was my 11th anniversary and I was looking forward to the kids being gone at Grandma and Grandpa's for the night for an evening out with my husband. The day started out though with getting things ready for the Washington State caucus'. I was asked to be a Precinct Caucus Chair, which means you run the caucus for your precinct. I had to make sure I had all the necessary materials to get people signed in- so pens, cardboard type clip boards, tape, signs for my precinct, and all the important directions, tally sheets, delegate info and materials.

Then it was off to my son's swim lessons where I get in the water with him. He has been afraid of the water and the family swim lesson style has been good for him. Once we were out of the pool it was, hand off my son to Dad, waiting at the entrance to the locker rooms, and off to the caucus. I arrived by 12:30 pm to set up qwishing I had gotten there earlier. There were already lots of perople milling around and technically they weren't supposed to be let in until 1pm. So I found my precinct's spot and managerd to get one table and a few chairs from the other precincts whio had arrived earlier to set up. There were 8 precincts at my location. I was a bit worried as we were expecting a larger turn out than the last caucus. I also participated then and we had only 6 people then. This year we had 45!

I few kinks in the process, but all went well. Probably my biggest frustrations were: 1. being located next to the main entrance. People thought I was in charge of the whole thing! 2. Too many people don't know their precinct and need help figuing it out. 3. Explaining that you can't sign into a different precinct than which you are assigned. 4. Speaking over 45 people in my precinct and the 60+ from the neighboring precint!

I was able to get volunteers to be the secretary to record minutes and a tally person to help do the math and the delegate allocations. It was fun to see and listen to people share during the "persuation time." we started with 4 uncommitteds and ended with only one. We also had a person switch candidates for the final tally. True democracy in action!

So, it was tiring and inspiring and I was glad I volunteered. I would do it again.

The anniversary dinner was nice, quite and relaxing. We went to a small Italian restaurant near Pacific Lutheran University where I worked before Paul and I got married. It is a fabulous restauraunt. Tiny and quaint with excellent food. You have to make reservations a week or more in advance if you don't want to eat at 4:30pm or 8pm. I took home their bread pudding for dessert because I was stuffed, but can never pass up their bread pudding. We had planned on going to a movie, but it would have had to start ater 9pm, so we opted to rent and chose Ocean's 13. The Ocean's movies hold a special place for us, since my water broke as Ocean's 11 started on our Pay-per-view 5 1/2 years ago and my daughter was born a couple of hours later. So it was a great evening of celebrating 11 years of marriage.

On the running front since the weekend I have been pokey. MOnday my husband went golfing as the rain had let up, Tuesday I had to stay at school till after 8pm for a curriculum showcase. I will go out soon tonight after my husband gets home from his golf outing this afternoon. I feel like I have to let him go, he coaches high school baseball and the season is just about to start and he will have no free time for 3 1/2 months. So I can sacrifice a run or two now. I still call it in the name of recovery but really I think I have the post long run run let down and hae found af ew reasons to not go out and run. I'll get my groove back today and the rest of the week.

Tomorrow am I will run because I am taking a day off to volunteer in my daughter's kindergarten class for Valentine's day. I'll run before I go to the school. Friday we don't have school for President's weekend so I'll run again then. Saturday will be the usual club run, then SUnday after church and again Monday morning! So I think I'll be back on track!

I ran across a great quote this morning in my morning quiet time. It is from a book called Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado
The Voice of Adventure
There is rawness and wonder to life. Pursue it. Hunt for it. Sell out to get it. Don't listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second rate life and want you to do the same so they won't feel guilty. Your goal is not to live long; it's to live.
Jesus says the options are clear. On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe.....
Or you can hear the voice of adventure--God's adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God's impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. (Run the race) Make a difference. Sure isn't safe, but what is?

Grace and peace to you.