running is easy

Stairmasters are hard. It took me a long time to figure them out, and now that I am confident that I know how to control them, I've decided they're still hard.

It's a good, gym-kind-of-hard. If you need to go work out without moving any distance, this has to be one of the most effective machines for your heart, lungs, and without a doubt your legs and booty. The best part about beginning a workout on the stairmaster is that when you move on to run on the treadmill it is easy as pie. The best part about including the stairmaster in my workout is that I feel like I met a challenge and didn't just "call in" my workout!

And no, I was not paid for my testimonial (but I would be if I could be).

eat pray love

I've been semi-reading this book by Elizabeth Gilbert for the past month. I've enjoyed some of the insights, but so far it's not the kind of book that I can't put down. I really enjoyed this thought about making decisions in life:

"That's the thing about a human life--there's no control group, no way to ever know how any of us would have turned out if any variables had been changed."

While I'm sure I've recognized this sentiment many times, this seems to put it in a new, objective light. You'll never know the perfect answer or what could have happened if things were different. Do something, enjoy it, and move on!

done and done

We bought a new car. A real, new car. Like it had 10 miles on it when we drove it off the lot. I know that we definitely didn't go overboard and just bought a basic economy car (Mazda 3), but, trust me, it's hot! The first day back to work, the car sat in our garage... I was too afraid to drive it and I don't think it even crossed D's mind...? I drove the car today and it felt spectacular. It's extra lumbar support is nursing a slight back injury, I can accelerate at an acceptable pace, and even control the stereo with handy buttons right on the steering wheel! It just feels good and safe. And it was super easy to set the time on the clock---there's actually a "clock" button---imagine that!

It feels really good.

Until I pull up next to an older car, and weird as it is, I feel a twinge of jealousy. I am very happy about having a new car. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a splurge-y purchase, but one that needed to be made and was made responsibly. I even feel proud knowing that we've been working and saving for the past 4 years to afford it, but there is something very respectable and endearing about a car that hangs in there, and an owner that hangs in there with it.

Sappy much? I'll probably get over it when I successfully merge onto the freeway tomorrow without the smell of burning...