Anyhow, had a quiet moment, so I thought I would update the blog. Instead of telling you all about my busy life since I've moved out west, I decided to make a summary of sorts. Without further ado, may I present...
Sistah T's List of Stuff You Haven't Done in a While but Should Take Time to Do:
- Pick someone up from the airport. And I mean, more than just driving up to the baggage claim, chucking the bags into the trunk, and hauling off before security gets a chance to yell at you. Have you noticed that barely anyone parks and comes in to greet their loved ones anymore? Yes, I am fully aware that it costs money to park, but it's worth seeing the face of a friend or relative light up when they see that they were special enough for you to wait for. It's only about $2 if you time things correctly - why should you be so cheap with someone you love anyway?
- Drive across the country. If you haven't already done so, I totally recommend it - especially going across I-40 (formerly Route 66). It takes longer, but the scenery going through Arizona and New Mexico is AWESOME.
- Go to a farmers market. I used to go to the farmers market every Saturday in Midland as a kid. Now that I live in a state where there are tons of farmers markets all over the place (some of which are open year-round), I can't wait to go again!! I also look forward to fruit-picking - there was an orchard in Indiana that I used to love to pick apples at, and I can't wait to find some good ones around here.
- Read a book. Believe me - I am the LAST person on earth to suggest this. I used to read all the time as a kid (I used to love historical fiction and biographies), but ever since I went to college, I think I've only read a handful of books that weren't textbooks. I still have very specific tastes in the genres I read (it's still limited to factual types of books - usually historical or biographical), but I have to say it's nice to take the time to complete a book or two. I recently read Tony Dungy's first book and am now in the process of reading his second. I do like to read about the life experiences of others, and I'm looking forward to picking up another book after this. (No, I will not read Harry Potter... I had the fantasy and fiction beat out of me years ago, so don't even try to persuade me to read this.)
- Listen. I really don't think I listen as well as I used to - mostly, I think it's because I've become the type of person that just wants a conversation to come to some kind of a point or resolution. I guess I can thank engineering school and my fast-paced life at work for this!! Perhaps our society as a whole has gone in this direction - we want answers now, and we want them to be direct. It's harder for me to listen now than it was when I was younger - I think it's because I think I know stuff now, and back then I knew that I knew nothing. I really have to hold my tongue and ego now and give someone my full attention. I'm so used to multitasking that I really have to make an effort to focus on the things that someone else is saying. So if you see me picking up my Blackberry in the middle of a conversation, I give you permission to slap my wrist!! (Not too hard though - I have scrawny wrists.)
- Run outside. Again - I am the last person on earth to suggest this. Those of you who knew me in elementary school remember me as the chubby asthmatic kid with skin allergies to sunlight - I literally couldn't walk outside unless I had my inhaler and my sunblock. I remember the mile run as being a struggle - even though I got my best time in 7th grade (9 min 30 sec), I still huffed and puffed. (The Big Bad Wolf had nothing on me!!) Then I began to jog on the Monon when I moved to Indy and I absolutely loved it. My only issue was that I couldn't run outside in the extreme cold or heat - my body can only take so much. Now, with the weather here in the Bay being ideal almost every single day, I've hit the trails again and it's been great. My goal back in Indy was to run an entire 5k (not walk at all) - I was planning on the Indy Mini/5k, but then I moved away!! I still want to run a 5k - shooting for the fall now in the Bay Area!
- Blog. Yeah, I know - it's therapeutic. Why else do you think I'm doing this?
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