Organizing my to-dos

I've been experimenting with different ways to get stuff done and keeping track of all my to do items. I was starting to feel like I was rewriting the same list or just felt so overwhelmed with how long my list could get that I just gave up making lists and figured if it's important I'll remember it. Not always true mind you. 

I came across the idea of the bullet journal and briefly tried it out but it was more work than I wanted. But I liked the structure of the journal, and specifically the idea of having an index to keep track of the different pages of content. 

About a week before thanksgiving, I went through my house and pulled all my random projects into one big pile in the living room. Everything from mending a sweater to my folder of figuring out my style/outfits to installing a new fire alarm to my knitting project. I also pulled my multiple lists together. It helped seeing everything together. Granted there were several things I didn't include - in situ projects (finish painting my bedroom) or large and heavy projects (sort through my boxes of papers from childhood to present or my yarn collection). 

What was helpful was I started seeing patterns and was able to group projects. I had my craft projects and enough material to warrant knitting and sewing to have their own separate lists. I had a pile of stuff I was doing because I was motivated by making others happy - in a good way (write personal thank you/birthday cards). I had a list of things to do to save/earn money (call my internet provider, post items on craigslist). And on and on. Then I took an old notebook from my use it or lose it pile which meant it wasn't precious, so I felt comfortable experimenting and not wasting a brand new notebook. And each page I wrote out what I was doing that day. Top of the page was my projects/to-dos I needed to do. They were top priority and I consider them a necessity. And the bottom half was a bunch of other stuff I wanted to get to but if I didn't it was ok. I planned out most of the week and tried to focus on categories for my future self, money related, time sensitive items (cook the chicken in the fridge before it goes bad) and a few items from the "others" list. 

It's still early days but it's made things lighter for me and I don't feel as daunted. I'm able to realize that some items I may never get to and when I copy the lists over I might drop some items and prioritize others. And, I just had a nice little boost today to keep up my momentum.  I had a call midday from an old college friend. She has always been so good at sending me birthday cards and I've not always reciprocated so figured I'd return the favor and have been sending her a series of cards these last few months. One, I'm using up my stationary collection that really was just sitting around and being too precious to use. And two, I knew she was going through probably one of the hardest parts of her life right now. We chatted and caught up and at the end she shared that the cards were just heaven sent and just what she needed in this most trying of times. And I didn't even realize to the full extent of what she was going through. She said she felt like I was her angel sending her love and support when she most needed it and that I somehow sensed it. Anyways. It just reminded me of the old saying, "the path to hell is paved with good intentions."  Which I didn't really understand until way into adulthood. I thought good intentions was a good thing. And then realized if they are never acted upon and no action to carry them out then it really is just nothing. Still don't get why you would go to hell for something like that but I digress. Earlier me would have known cards would be a good thing to send this year but would have never gotten around to executing the idea. It's a great reminder.

Wild beasts, groceries and Antique Roadshow

First off, this morning. I was baking away for the week and using brown sugar. After I was done I noticed I was getting low and thought, "man, I thought I had stocked up on brown sugar, that would have been a good thing to use my grocery coupons on the last two months."  And then an hour later, guess what I found in my mail - more grocery coupons for December. It's the same grocery store as last month that just opened up and is a bit far away, but not too bad. I'm not sure I'll use every weeks coupons, but think I'll make use of the $3 off $15 some more. 

Yesterday, I popped up to NH for an orienteering event. I wasn't sure what to wear as its getting quite brisk outside but even hiking up and down hills can make you overheat. Anyways, great crisp sunny day and I headed out with the first wave of folks also orienteering. As usual, the second control tripped me up - I went too far and over shot it. Well, to make it to the third control, there was no easy way to get there on trails so I went off trail, following, what we in the know call a "handrail" (look at me learning the lingo). I followed a stone wall, now overgrown with trees and shrubs, in the middle of the forest. As I passed under one tree I saw a strange pile of dirt in front of a hole at the base of a large tree in front of me. It wasn't natural and I was curious so I headed straight towards it to investigate and that's when I saw some movement inside the hole, and I made out a black furred beast that was moving around and pointing its rear at me. Yup, I sprinted away as quickly as possible as I'm 99% sure it was a skunk. I felt bad I disturbed its home and felt bad that there would be a bunch more people probably following the same handrail and disturbing the skunk again and again. 

As I was finishing up the course, I started picking up fallen pine branches from the ground. And by the time I got back had a big armful. And as I drove home, I noticed another big branch from a different kind of pine tree fallen on the ground. I had a quick argument in my head about stopping and ended up turning around and going back for the branch. Except the branch was bigger than I had thought (it didn't fit in my car). So I take my hand clipper (i came prepared for this outing) and started trimming off good boughs for my collection. There was a guy leaf blowing the front yard, a way back from the street and came over to check I was ok and not broken down. When he saw what I was doing he went and got bigger loppers and helped me. How nice, right?  Now I have a pile of branches in my living room I need to figure out how to decorate with. 

And finally, I've slowly been cranking through projects - one of which is finally getting around to selling stuff I want to let go of but think I can get some money. I reached out to a local company that sells mid century furniture to see if they would be interested in my Thaden Jordan bent plywood dining set. Looks like they are interested and want to know how much I want. I figured I'd do a little research, and look what I found. One of the chairs was on the Antique Roadshow.  And just one chair goes for at least $800. Not sure how this translates to real life prices. But needless to say, I'll hopefully recoup my initial cost buying and shipping the set. I had a momentary pause about selling the set but reminded myself that although beautiful, by letting go of the set, I open up space (physically and figuratively) to let even better things come into my life. 

Grocery Run

For me I find coupons bring more stress then they are worth. I've been collecting old newspapers from dad for a spring time attempt to block weeds and came across the Sunday insert of coupons.  I ended up using one for contact solution. A different brand than I use but it was $1 off. Well, I fell for the marketing trick - using a coupon to get customers to try a new product. Strike one. But then, on top of all that, I don't know what it is, but I've gotten an eye infection two different times this fall. I finally figured out it was the contact solution and switched back to my tried and true and no problem. Strike two. So now, I'm back to my rule of only using coupons on a brand I like and that I need. I can't tell me how many toothpaste coupons I come across but I don't need any more tubes. 

My other rule is to only use coupons that are for a store and not a product. My local ace sends me monthly $7 off $25 purchase, so I stock up on those for when I need something. And that was about it until this fall. October I got a promotional sheet of coupons from a grocery store down the street. I think they're trying to keep up with whole foods since this was the first time I ever saw this promotion. Anyways, it's the kind where you get four columns of coupons for each week of the month for $7 off $25 purchase and then $1 off different departments. So $9 off each week. I had trouble finding stuff to buy by the end since I had stocked up my pantry and wasn't wild about their produce - I like buying local, in season produce. Anyways, final week I felt good that I saved good money about $25 without buying anything I wouldn't normally buy and fits in with my new approach to eating - buying single ingredient foods (mostly).

And then, a few days later, wham, in my mail was another mailer for a new grocery store next town over.  Another set of four weeks of coupons for November. I didn't think I'd use them all, skip a week or two. Well, I ended up using them all (not the meat or bakery coupon). And just finished using my last set yesterday, saving about $25 again. 

I'm all stocked up on dry goods and onions and dish detergents and everything. And wham, guess what I got today?  Yup, another promotional deal for groceries - single coupon for $35 off your first purchase. This time it was at my gym.  They were having an open house with a bunch of different tables. I almost skipped them but ended up chatting with one group, "Farmers To You" which is just up my ally. It's a small organization in its early days but it's basically like your online grocery delivery, like pea pod or other similar companies. Except this one is a partnership with small Vermont farmers. Great story revitalizing the dying art of farming in New England. Lots of great stuff, but a bit pricey for my budget. However, as I start buying less and less and really just the necessities, I don't feel as overwhelmed focusing on environmentally and socially responsible purchases. Especially with food that you are consuming. Local is always so much better and New England has such great biodiversity in its farming. Tons of options. Anyways, looks like I'll be shopping for December foods with my latest coupon. I'm curious if three is it or will I get another monthly coupon promotion in January. 

Gym Update

I fell off the wagon for November. Can you tell from the lack of posting?  I want to write it down though so I can try to learn and keep trying new approaches. Ironically, it was because I was trying too hard. I was good, going all week long the first week of November, and then I was popping up to dads on Friday. I didn't even want to go Friday morning as I lay in my warm comfy bed, but since I was leaving after lunch for dads, and had a bunch of work to do that morning, it was a "now or never" moment. I realized this was a good lesson and thought, I should try to figure out how to create more now or never moments. Because the most frequent downfall for me is, I'll go later today and then never do. 

Since I wanted to keep up my run of working out first thing in the morning, I packed my running gear and Saturday morning I woke up, waited for it to be light out and went out for a run. I was happy to have confirmation that my gym membership is worth it. I kind of hate paying to run on a treadmill when I can just run outside (and I use the gym for other things too). But it's the cold that would make it even harder to motivate and get going. Doable, but I need to remove my road blocks not add more. I started off and it was cold out.  I was glad I had my hat and had added an extra layer. I ran down to a neighbors house to drop off a note as part of my networking. I wasn't running too much - run walk combo. But in hindsight, realize I was warming up and it was all up hill mostly. I got to the end of the street and turned around and said, try running the whole way back to the Main Street. I didn't think I'd make it but that was my goal. And oh my goodness, no problem!  It helped that some of it was downhill but still, earlier me from the summer would never have been able to. I was so energized that instead of turning to run home I went the other way towards town to take the long way back. As I was rounding the corner and heading up the hill to dads I noticed the gate was open at their neighbors. Their property backs up to a grand house with even grander gardens - they are often profiled in magazines and on walking tours. The front part is formal, but the back part is more wooded. I popped in to check out the back part.  It was wooded but this strange manicured wilderness. Really neat. And I noticed at the top of the hill/cliff the back of dads place. I figured it was so early no one was up and I hadn't seen any do not trespass signs and I wanted to get home, this was the shortest way. I made a dash up the steep hill and came into dads neighbors backyard (opps) and I quickly made my way home quite winded with that last bit. All told, my run was 5,000 steps and 25 flights of stairs. Not bad and I felt really good after. Not tired or sore at all and energized. 

Dad and I went for a hike in the afternoon and then the next morning we went orienteering together. We did the orange course like usual but man, at the end was I tired. It was longer than normal, over two hours. And looking back, it was a lot of hills and almost all off trail (instead of just half). It was really cool because there were a lot of stone walls in the forest (from the farming days) that you'd follow... Up and down and up and down hills. 

The next day I was so sore and wiped out. I realized that weekend I had done too much. I think of it as bars on a ladder and I'm at one level and it's OK to push yourself a few bars further up than the usual bar, but if the gap is too far, it's too much and you just fall hard. That's what happened here. And it took a few days before my body was up for more work out and by then my hormones had swung and it was hard to motivate. And as I noted before, the bigger the gap from your last workout, the harder it is to get going. 

On the upside, I used accountability to motivate me and at thanksgiving I was up at dads again. And both mornings I went for a run first thing and it felt good (not as good as that first time) and also kind of nice to non-verbally brag. Hard to brag just to yourself when you are on your own. 

The first run, I went a different direction (I knew part of the run was the novelty of the route for the first time). I went south and realized it wasn't too far from some public woods that dad and I hiked after my first time running in nh at the beginning of the month. I decided to pop into the woods and run around the pond. It was gorgeous, early winter morning and so picturesque. I was able to visit my favorite spot we had discovered and I named Gnomeland. The moss and lichen is amazing in early November - super green and full - blooming. And there is this one swath of lichen or pale white green moss in amongst these mini baby furry pines.  It looks like a blanket of magical snow. It's just so quaint and untouched and your imagination can run wild with something like that. I didn't dawdle though because, 1) it was cold, 2) I suddenly became aware I was alone in the woods. 

I don't know about you but I've always tried to be street smart and never be in a situation that makes me vulnerable, especially as a woman. When I travel, I stay in at night (I'm exhausted anyways), and although I love the woods I never go on my end. I think what got me this time was that with orienteering I've gotten used to being "alone" in the woods, but you're actually surrounded by tons of people so it doesn't seem desolate. And I had just been to these same woods a few weeks earlier with dad so they had a familiarity and I thought of them in conjunction with dad. 

Anyways, I realized dad and other orienteers were not actually with me, so I ran quickly the rest of the way around the pond, trying to take in all the picturesque beauty but not stopping or slowing down. I got back to the road and ran until the foot of the steep part of the road. And walked the rest of the way. I'll have to see if I can get a picture of the place from nick. We ended up going there later that day for a hike, me, dad and nick.

After thanksgiving. Nick spent a few nights, while visiting friends before flying back to DC and I kept up my gym visits. And then Monday hit and I got the beginning of a cold. I still went to the gym but the rest of the week I was super stuffed up. Tuesday I was drinking so much I think I visited the bathroom over 20 times. It was just drink water, toilet, drink toilet, repeat. Anyways, I didn't know the etiquette about having a cold and the gym (turns out, it's best to be considerate and stay away while your contagious), and I didn't want to overdo it again and push my weakened body too much. 

I'm still stuffed up a bit, but feel on the mend, this Saturday morning. I plan to go to the early morning Tai Chi class I've been meaning to try out and if I'm feeling good, stay for the step class I usually go to Saturday mornings. It's all about thinking in terms of resets to break the cycle you are in. I. Trying out a new reset system I've been experimenting with and formalized for this month. So far so good, buts only day 2. I'll keep you posted. 

Gym classes

This weekend, since I had no orienteering I made it to the step class on Saturday. When I first started, the instructor told me, after an hour of me having two left feet and being terribly uncoordinated while the rest of class stepped in unison, that it takes about ten classes before you get the hang of the routine. I wasn't too bothered as I knew it as just part of my brain that hadn't been wired that way...yet. 

Last time I did the class, I did pretty well.  Still a few missteps but generally I was getting the hang of the routine. But this weekend, I felt like I had gone back in time and was more uncoordinated than ever. What happened?!  I realized, as I was trying to stay in step, that I hadn't been to a step class for a few weeks, between orienteering and being out of town. And that its like a language - you gotta use it or you lose it. And as I was trying to be in step, it dawned on me, it's good that I'm going to the gym and taking these classes, because not only a, I working my cardio (good for hearts and lungs), and weight routines (good for the bones and muscles) and sweating (good for getting a better chemical balance emotionally), it was also good for me mentally - retiring parts of my brain and irking out that important muscle at the top of my body. So I held on to the idea I was working my brain muscle as I stumbled through the rest of the class. It was good I was doing something my brain could do in auto-pilot. And I realized, as I was thinking all this, that I was thinking a lot more during the class. My mind as wandering and making these connections but also not really focusing on the routine which also hurt my coordination. I kept trying to tell myself to focus at the task at hand but for some reason, that morning my mind was all over the place. I like the discoveries my mind s making right now. A lot of aha moments all of a sudden and I'm trying to capture them. And it wasn't like I was ruminating or worrying, but I want focusing where I needed to. I need to figure out if there is something I can add to my morning routine that will help me focus and then release later and let the mind wander for the creative stuff, but then focus again. It almost sounds like an exercise: focus and then wander, focus and then wander. I'll have to figure that one out and get back to you. 

Oh, also have to mention I just went to my first barre class. I've been meaning to go and finally made it to the class.  A little early so got my cardio in for the day too. I thought I'd like it since I liked the ballet fit, but I was presented with a jarring start of the class. The instructor was nice but then she cranked up the music - modern rock and proceeded to do some really fast aerobic, quasi ballet (but barely) moves all while yelling at the class over the loud music. A stark contrast to the ballet class which was calm and quiet classical music. Just not what I was expecting. I almost wanted to step out after 15 minutes but I've started thinking of ways to do more experiments and thought of this as an experiment - to test out if barre classes are a good fit for me. By the end of the class it quiets down, but she kept yelling at us and was more like a drill instructor than I had experienced before. At first I was thinking this isn't for me. But then I questioned myself, was it really just because the class was hard - I really could feel my core muscles and my arm and leg muscles were like "what the hell ya doin' to us?"  So it was a good work out in that sense. I did feel like it easily put strain on your lower back if your form wasn't right.  And I wasn't always getting the form right - a lot to focus on right from the start - no easing in. By then end I was happy I stuck it out throughout the class. But I came away from the class feeling quite anxious. I just don't like yelling, especially when the person is yelling at me. I might make it to the class again now and then, but it's not making it onto my regular workout routine. However, there is one other barre instructor that offers a class in the vending that I was also interested in. And I'm going to not discount barre completely and try this other class to see what the atmosphere (and music) is like and see if it might be a better fit. Who knows, the class I went to today might be good fit for me later, but just not right now. I'm still new to exercising and I respond better to warm hugs than drill sargents. 

Flashback to being five

I feel like I'm off my habit. As I mentioned earlier I haven't really clearly defined what the habit is I'm trying to create. I think I'm finding exercise every day is too vague and doesn't create the habit. Or maybe it's actually the best way to enter into the habit. This morning I woke up extra early and was supposed to have visitors (they canceled later in the morning) so I got up and tidies and cleaned.  And by the time the gym opened up at 5, I was on a roll with cleaning. I have to say it's so nice resetting the house to clean and tidy. I need to remember to do these resets more often. 

By the time I ate breakfast I found out my plans had change for the day and I kept going with work projects.  I did see that I could go to a 4 pm ballet fit class. I meant to get out the door earlier to run errands first and get some cardio in. Instead I ran late but knocked off some dragging to-dos which really felt good. And the class was a nice surprised. Very relaxed and not what I was expecting.  Basically it was laying of the floor stretches/Pilates and the second half was your classic ballet routine at the bar. And oh my goodness, I had a vague flash back to my younger days of doing ballet. I think. I was pretty young and the memory was pretty vague and if I'm honest the memory might have been from a movie I saw and not really my memory. But anyways it was a nice feeling. Ballet is so simple and yet difficult. I was focusing on so many different things but at the end of class I did feel taller which is one of the main benefits the instructor shared. I think I might do a little YouTube research and practice before next weeks class. I have grand visions of becoming and elegant and graceful person in how I hold myself and float across a room. From someone who is a tripper - it's a goal. 

The instructor was super friendly and after class she shared more about the exercises and we got talking about lifestyle and food and just generally a nice overall positive boost. I did still hop onto the treadmill but only ran a bit before I realized I needed to head to the bathroom (too much water) and then I figured I should run my errands and get home for dinner. So not a full cardio workout today, but I did make myself do a bit. 

I pulled out my old Fitbit (first generation, it's that old) and charged it up last night. I was supposed to go to a museum today and was curious how many steps I'd walk. I put it on first thing this morning and even though I was sitting and working for a bunch of today, between the running around tidying the house and the ballet class and the treadmill, I ended up close to 7,000 miles which isn't too bad. 

I think I'm going to try wearing the Fitbit for a few days and see how my exercise routine each day contributes to my overall steps for the day.  And tomorrow, I've steeled myself to make into the gym early (before 6 am let's say) and try to get the morning routine again.

Oh, and to follow up on the previous post, the orienteering results from my day out with sharing the trails with the horses, I placed 4th. So my run of top 3 has ended but it was a pretty good run. I'm on the fence if I should go this weekend. There are no local orienteering events, but because this is New England, going to a meet in Conneticut isn't that much farther than usual. It is two hours though. Maybe I can piggy back another trip on it too. We'll see. 

What's the Etiquette with Running around Horses?

I think I mentioned yesterday, I had the rare treat of two orienteering meets in one weekend. This Sunday morning, I was admittedly lazy and stayed in bed an extra hour (or more). Webster was very upset since he had gobbled down his wet I had fed during my bathroom trip and he wanted his dry which I dole out later in the morning after I've made my breakfast but was being delayed since I was still in bed.

I had a morning of chopping, cooking up a ton of green peppers and sweet potatoes. I also experimented with new spice combos for mini sausage patties.  A good way to use up older spices. By the time I sat down for breakfast it was already 10 and I didn't get out the door until twenty minutes later. 

I'm doing this new thing now. Instead of just plugging in the address into my gps and blindly following directions. The night before I looked online the route, studied it drove on memory how to get to the place. I think it's a good warm up for orienteering since one skill to develop is to remember your route with minimal map checks. I did it yesterday and again today and it's a good way to exercise the brain. So strange to say it, since this is how we used to drive anyways, pre GPS. I'm starting to notice ways technology can make us (me) lazy and lose skillsets unconsciously. 

I checked in and was off by 10:50 am. This is the second time I thought I was being lazy and getting a late start but accidently (subconsciously?) did the right thing. Usually meets are 10 to noon for check in. And I like to be there right at the start. You're less likely to shadow someone else on the same course. But it turns out today's event was 11 to 2. So I was early, but they were open for business so it all worked out. Same thing Friday. I was on a role with some projects so didn't get into the gym first thing in the morning and by the time I finally got around to it, it was lunch time and I had a hint of guilt it was so late. Except my gym was closed Friday morning for construction work and didn't open until 2. So I ran the rest of my errands and came back. I had known about the scheduled delay for two weeks. The notice was on the door I went through every day. Except I forgot, but maybe my subconscious remembered. Anyways, two times I felt bad I was running late and it turned out I was early. 

Today's meet was another gorgeous perfect fall day. Again not too cold that my nose is red but cool enough that when I was working up a sweat and then got to place I could run, the breeze created from running felt really good. The meet was in a DCR park that had a strong smell of manure when I arrived. I kept checking my shoe because I thought I stepped in something. Not sure what the park was about since I didn't check it out, but there was a farm and I heard mooing near the start of the course. 

I started off right behind someone else who I thought at first was on the same course, but we just had an overlap of the same control at the beginning. Which I used to my advantage to test out a question. Is it faster to cut through the brush and go a direct route, or take the longer route around, but on trails where you can run faster. We were at control one at the same time and he headed off on the hypotenuse of a right triangle and I ran the two legs of same triangle. Longer distance but we got to the same place around the same time. And I think he was probably more tired fighting through the bush.  So I filed that lesson away for later. Just after he popped out of the woods and we were both looking for control number two, along came two ladies on horseback down the trail. By then I was heading off trail in search of my landmark. But it was a nice addition to the fall day. 

Fast forward to about control 8, and I'm running along a path and see two more horses heading my way. I had a moment of deliberation in my head. Can I keep running? Or should I slow down and walk so as not to upset the horses?  I had no idea, but figured they must be overlapping with other runners so I kept running but tried to provide as much distance between us as possible. And I slowed down a little. 

Overall I did ok. I didn't have any one control like yesterday that I really struggled on.  But I did have a bunch (around 3-5) where I didn't find them straight away and had to self correct. I did remember having trouble with marker two and thinking, why do I always have trouble with the second control as that was the one that tripped me up yesterday. This time, I was thrown by the guy that started just before me.  He pops out onto the trail just before me and I'm distracted with my experiment I think so although I think I'm paying attention, I missed a stone wall and head off trail later than I should. I was definitely influenced by the other runner.  It turns out his second control was near mine on the same side of the trail, but several hundred meters farther along. Once I figure this out, I run back and find mine right away. I really need to learn to block out the other competitors because usually they are on another course, or more lost than I am. 

Today's forest had a ton of stone walls. I can't remember having another meet where I used stone walls so much as guides for finding the markers. There was one water spot, near a stone wall that I was so happy to see. I really need to invest in a small water carrying device. I was getting thirsty today. And yesterday. 

Overall, I had a lot more energy and didn't feel as sluggish or groggy legs. And I could feel I had a better energy source with my hearty breakfast in my belly. I do think I still need to work on my endurance since I did take a bunch of bigger trails I could run on but did a combo run and walking. I couldn't run the whole distance. I did push myself to run most of the last leg home. My eye has pretty much cleared up. But to be on the safe side I wore my glasses again today - no contacts yet. I didn't mention before, but it took some adjustment yesterday. I don't wear my glasses outside ever and this is an older pair so I had to get used to going from looking at something up close to something in the distance. I'm definitely putting glasses on my list of things to save up for once I have an income again. This pair is from pre 9/11, so over 16 years old. Crazy how fast time has gone by.

And when I sprinted to the finish and downloaded my results, I walked around to the screen and saw... I was first again!  Again, first out of one competitor - just me competing so far. As I say, take your wins where you can. So I'm enjoying first for awhile. I'm not sure I'll place this time since I think i did decent, better than where I was at last year, and I ran a bunch.  But I also walked a bunch since a lot was off trails and I wasn't always spot on finding the controls. There was one control that was by a bunch of rocks, right by the trail.  Should be easy, but there were a bunch of trails in the area and it was tricky figuring out which trail you were on. Trails are useful until they are deceitful - usually when they are the tiny ones and not all of the trails are marked on the map, so you think you are on one trail, but you're on another trail. Anyways, I'm learning to keep cross checking the map with the terrain to ensure I'm where I think I am. And I'm standing by these bunch of rocks thinking, wait, maybe I'm on this other trail and I need to head over that way, when I look up and notice the marker just to my left tucked behind the rock I was standing next to. I was right where I thought I was. Opps, that cost me an extra half a minute figuring that out. And I'm learning it's these moments that don't seem like much can add up. 

Oh, also, I've been practicing the advise from a fellow competitor a few weeks back.  We kept overlapping, doing the same course and he advised me to "always plan my exit."  Meaning, you are planning how to get to the marker, say marker three but as you are getting close, also start figuring out what route you are taking to the next marker, marker four. That way, as you come upon marker three you know which way to head without having to stop and take time to figure out what next. It's more graceful, helps with your time and is good etiquette since you standing by a marker gives away the location to other runners. I found myself practicing, "planning my exit". And started thinking that's a good lesson to take to the world at large. Head towards your goal but plan what's next too. I'm not sure of any particular examples in real life yet, but am going to practice planning my exit this next week and will report back. Also no results posted yet, so will have to report back if I placed. 

Well Webster is meowing for dinner.  He's like my alarm clock, always telling me when 6 am and 5:30 pm are. He really has taken after Winston. Which makes me realize I somehow have inadverntently trained this behavior since I'm the common denemonitaor with the two cats.