Author Archives: sorellaaglio

take a little piece of me/hang it by the place you sleep

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Now the the 5K has past, and fall is settling in, I think its time to get back to basics, to get on a schedule, and to make some plans. Summer is my favorite season because it’s carefree, fun, happy, sunshiny. Autumn is my favorite season because it’s about back to it, organization, cooling it down, enjoying every precious sunshiny moment.

What am I going to be up to this fall?

1. Getting on the blog. Big plans for GMS and this blog, but I think I need a noncomputer day to map out everything I think and feel and just create. I am recommitting myself to keeping both blogs accurate, not letting one suffer for the other.

2. Putting me first. This fall, I am going to try to: a) get up early enough to eat breakfast at home; b) get back to exercising my whole body, keeping up running and yoga, too; c) learn how to meditate, and spend at least 10 minutes a day doing so.

3. Moving on up. I want to be looking for two bedroom apartments so we can find somewhere to live that fits our growing lifestyle, and allows Jeff and I to work from home without sacrificing comfort.

4. Paring down, doubling down. Moving and putting me first mean really looking at my “busy” to see what it’s comprised of. Fun activities that uplift me, or commitments that stress me out? Everything is up for evaluation (soccer coaching already passed the test, as did book club.)

5. Relaxing. All of this is to say, relax. Figuring out how to do nothing, and be OK with that. Enjoying small moments, the sun, the wind, the sounds around me, my friends’ laughter, smiles.

Excuse me, now, whilst I head to finish a National Geographic.

 

honey to the bees, baby.

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Last night’s speech by President Obama was inspiring, and I just want you to be able to watch it, if, you know, you have a minute.

It’s not up as I write this, but I am sure it’ll be here when it does. In the meantime, you can watch this video of James Taylor singing at the Democratic National Convention.

I don’t agree with everything that the Democrats say and do. But I do think that Barack Obama is the right choice for America in 2012. And I can’t wait to cast my vote for him.

Other inspiring speeches of the DNC include Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Jennifer Granholm, Deval Patrick, Julian Castro, and several other greats I have the privilege of sharing a party with.

[This is the part where my personal blog turns political for at least two months because everything about our government affects everything about our lives. I hope you’ll stick with me.]

 

30 days: on the wagon!

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Due to some unforeseen, not so bright decisions, I spent much of the long weekend not feeling too great because of some red wine. It was for a cause, I assure you, but after discussing how it made me feel, Becca and I decided to make good on something we’ve been discussing for a while: to spend a month not drinking!

In addition to booze adding to my calorie count every month, it makes my stomach angry! I don’t think I’ve ever discussed in detail here, but I have IBS, which means I have to be even more careful about what I am putting into my body, because in addition to not being good for me, unhealthy foods and drinks make my body responds badly when I don’t listen to it.

And so, for the month of September, despite it being two months until an election, despite numerous celebrations (departures, arrivals, congratulations) to come, Becca and I are not drinking.

Here’s to seeing if we loose any weight, if we feel better, or if we just come to appreciate alcohol a little more on the flip side!

#30dayspositive: the final edition

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8/14: Shark Week on a plane.

8/15: SS makes me snacking cake.


8/16: we take several hours to laugh and snuggle and look up at the sky.


8/17: we celebrate K and T’s engagement. We eat s’mores.


8/18: we see M. We celebrate her restaurant, and creativity. We eat, eat, eat.


8/19: Obamacare saves us money.


8/20: I witness turmoil on a plane. Everyone keeps calm, stays collected. I am thankful.


8/21: I do laundry for team J + J.


8/22: I appreciate the small stuff.


8/23: I get coconut oil in the mail. rejoice!

8/24: I enjoy the little things in life, like arcade games.


8/25: I learn how to roast coffee with Becca.


8/26: I enjoy a Sunday at the beach with these kids.


8/27: I go on a coffee tour of LA.

8/28: I make dinner for 80 homeless men and women in Los Angeles.

8/29: I sit quietly and enjoy a night with Jeff.

8/30: We root for the Red Sox.


8/31: We sit quietly again, because on 9/1, we run a 5k.

two minutes, fifteen seconds.

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So today Ellen, Jeff, and I completed our 80s-themed 5k.

It was Ellen and Jeff’s first competitive race, and my second, and we all managed personal bests! For me, I ran two minutes, fifteen seconds faster than my race last year with my sister. For that race, I trained for five and a half weeks, taking nearly two weeks off during training for when I was traveling across country with Corelyn.

This year, I trained for eight weeks, missing only one training day, despite making two cross-country trips during those eight weeks. (And, it should be noted, that running and I took a break between the two trainings – I ran maybe five times between the two trainings.)

I think my dedication to racing paid off, and gave me the desire to (gulp! I never thought I’d say this) run another race! Even though it was 85 degrees when we finished and we were all hot, exhausted, and sweaty, we all managed to discuss another race (maybe in the spring?) before heading home.

The race being 80s themed helped – lots of people dressed up, ready to race in tutus and leotards and pink tights. It also helped to have two novice runners with me instead of one experience runner (sorry Nik, but you’re a speed-demon) and it helped that instead of 40 degrees and sleeting, it was 80 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. And, there was no looping — one large loop (instead of 2.5 smaller ones at the Ann Arbor race.)

Here we are at the finish of the race!

I had a blast running with Ellen and Jeff, and know they had fun too — and I am proud of myself for running in sub-40, and beating my time from last race AND last weekend when I ran my practice 5k around the course at the Rose Bowl.

Here are the medals we got at the finish!

Next up, maybe we’ll run an 8k or 10k…the sky’s the limit, folks! Until then, I am spending the rest of the day preparing for an amazing long weekend, proud that our team finished strong.