The Latest

So here we are, months in. The scale at the boxing gym says I've lost about 7 pounds, and I can wear my slightly smaller pants without too much discomfort (which is better than not wearing them at all!) so the pairs of pants I can wear have increased from 2 to 4. I'm not in the thinner pants yet, but who knows?

My new treadmill and new garage sale television are all set up in the family room now. I ran 18 minutes and walked 11 today. I've been at the boxing gym now for about 3.5 months, and although there is still plenty to challenge me there, I'm punching and kicking stronger, and able to do more ab work than when I joined. I plan on keeping up with those classes, and adding on 4 18 minute runs a week for a couple week, and upping them to 2o minutes, then upping 2 of them by 5 minutes every few weeks until I reach 15-18 miles a week. Hopefully the extra cardio will up the burn.

My arms and upper body keep getting stronger, which is pretty cool. Of course it also means that about every 3-4 weeks my hands get a beating until they get used to the harder punching, but I'm willing to work with that. When I was sick the week before that I reached a setback, but I'm up and going now again.

So Sore

I finished an hour workout at the boxing gym yesterday, my first time. I triumphantly made it all the way through, but I'm paying the price today. My obliques are incredibly sore; all that side kicking really works the abs. My chest and shoulders are a little sore, but it's painful to stabilize my torso. I'll live, but ohhhh.

I would really like to do some yoga today, but my right knee is still bruised. Maybe I can do some sitting and prone stretches to soothe my soreness.

Fitness Update

I enjoy reading, knitting, crocheting, and doing a number of small tasks that involve little movement, or just mental instead of physical effort. I enjoy doing those things a great deal. Watching the color of yarn fly through my hands, following the plot of a film, making progress on a video game, visiting other worlds on the page is all an enjoyable pursuit for me.

Those activities are not enough, of course. I also enjoy cooking, playing with my dog, and other such activities that require a little more... activity. But I also love moving my body. I like yoga, the good pain of stretching sore or tight muscles. I love swimming, feeling the water envelope my body, and flowing with the waves. I love the rush of a good run, enjoy the triumph of finishing a run in which my legs and feet feel like lead. I'm really enjoying punching and kicking the bag at the boxing gym. But I wouldn't have been able to guess this from my earlier experiences with physcial fitness.

I hated gym. At my elementary school, my gym teacher grades 3-5 had been injured in a prank played on him by students, leaving one of his arms partially paralyzed, so I can understand to an extent his grumpiness, but he used to make fun of my athletic attempts. I am clumsy and a magnet for flying balls and such, so gym class was not always all that much fun. From grades 6-8 my worries were more concerned with changing for gym without showing much skin and avoiding the other students that mercilessly taunted me and shamed me for my lack of coordination. Less students did that in high school, but a couple accused me of such actions as playing volleyball badly to look "cute."

In a lone setting, in which I only have to focus on my own progress and my own skills without an audience, I slowly rediscovered my love of movement, the rush of knowing I can do more with my body than I could last week, last month, last year.

Last week I managed to do 4 half hour boxing work outs, and this week so far I did one yesterday, and a zumba class. Hopefully soon I will see a few inches fall off my waist for my efforts!

Accident Prone

Sometimes I wonder if the Evil Fairy was not invited to my baby shower, and cursed me. Perhaps the curse was that I would die, and the good fairies softened this by saying, no, I'd only trip and bump myself a lot, or maybe the Evil Fairy was the one to curse me with clumsiness. Evil can sometimes be insidious in its mundaneness. But I am clumsy.

I have scars on my forehead and chin from hitting sidewalks and coffee tables in the years I was learning how to walk. I've sawed into my hand with a hacksaw cutting limbs off a tree (the saw bounced off the tree and onto my hand). I often find bruises that have geneses of which I am not aware. I bump into so much, who could remember the creation of one in particular?

Last night I took Chloe out for a run around the neighborhood, and as usual, she decided it would be fun to charge at the cars that went by. Usually a few minutes into a run, she's lost this habit cause she's getting into the groove. However, as she ran to the humvee she bopped out in front of my feet to charge it, tripping me. I landed hands and knees first on the sidewalk, and dropped the leash on the way down.

She did come back to me as I angrily called her, and she made sheepish gestures (probably because of my negative tone of voice) but now I have an aching, swollen right knee. Last night it just hurt, no matter what I did, but today it only hurts if I move it around too much, or stand for too long (or kneel on it, but that one's probably obvious).

I did go boxing today anyway. I went yesterday as well. Both classes were 30 minutes, but they're getting a little easier. The particular exercises are still hard, but my endurance is getting better. I'm not nearly as wiped out at the end of class as I was last week. Yesterday I even stayed and ran 1.48 miles after the class (today my knee was too achy). I got my new boxing gloves today as well! No more shared sweaty gloves for me.

Wish me luck! Hopefully this injury will heal before I'm blessed with another.

Workout Update

Yesterday I did a lap around the neighborhood with Chloe. She saw me putting on my tennis shoes to hit the gym and I didn't have the heart to leave without taking her for a run. I also then did 1.41 miles at the gym. So, total mileage yesterday: 2.21 miles.

I was just planning to run a bit at the gym on the treadmill because I broke open one of my knuckles (it's scabby now, but a little painful) and was very sore yesterday, but a class started while I was there and I decided to join in. So I have also taken three 30 minute boxing classes this week as well. They involve not only boxing and kicking, but a variety of boot-camp type body weight exercises (and some small weights exercises as well). It's a lot like Jillian Michaels, but I have a bag to punch and kick. I have to adapt the hell out of most exercises as well. I still am not able to do full push ups, and can only handle full plank pose for a short amount of time. And my lower abdominal muscles need a lot of work, the weaklings.

This is a real difference in what my routine is, and I am hoping that will really shake up my waistline.

Boxing and kicking and sore wrists fun!

I started boxing at my new boxing gym yesterday. I took a half hour kickboxing class yesterday and today. It's fun punching and kicking the wavemasters, and my endurance can just about hold up to the 30 minute classes. Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I'll be able to hold up for an hour class once a week. The thirty minute class goes really fast, too.

The gym is less than a mile away from my house (though in bad traffic, it may take an extra ten minutes to make that left turn), and cheaper than the Y. It has less hours and less by way of facilities (2 treadmills, 1 elliptical and a weight room), but if I can run there or at Maryville 15 miles a week and take three classes I should be pretty good by way of fitness.

My hands and wrists and knuckles are a little sore today, as well as some of the muscles in my shoulders and around my knees (though not the actual joints, which is fine and preferable to that stiff joint pain I usually get.) For joining today, I got a 30 minute personal training session tomorrow, which I'm sure is meant to make me buy more personal training sessions, but I won't object to a little free advice.

Hopefully this new activity will shake up my routine and help me drop some inches.

Bye bye my Y

After buying the new house a good 35 minute drive (in good traffic) away from the place I used to live, it was my full intention to quit the YMCA and search out other options. At my old place, my Y was fairly new (built in the last 10 years), so the facilities were clean. There were lots of hdtvs with cable channels on them, usually at least one news and one sports, but there were usually 15 or so to choose from. Additionally, about half the treadmills had their own television sets on which I could choose my own television show and channel, especially when my shuffle ran out of power, which it is doing a lot more lately.

In my new house, the closest Y is a 25 minute drive away from home, in normal traffic, and easily 10 more minutes in heavy traffic. Also, the facilities are more cramped and older. The locker rooms don't have many stalls for their showers (yeah, open air showers!) and they are carpeted, leaving the smell of chlorine strong in the rooms often. Their are about half as many tvs, and usually all but one are set on news or sports (or financial news) channels. Boooring! Although I will miss some of the things the Y offers (pool, steam room, cardio, and free or cheap classes) in one package, I will be exploring my options over the next few weeks. There are a few storefront gyms nearby, chain gyms without pools, a boxing gym with a weight room and a few cardio machines, one of the universities I work at has a decent, though small, fitness center (with no weekend hours during the summer, and limited weekend hours during the school year, and no pool), and another school I work at has a pool but almost no fitness center.

So my last workout today consisted of 4.85 miles run, and 1 mile on the bike. I'm pretty tired today, and I still have some grading to do. Only one more week for one of my summer classes, and then 3 weeks of summer left. Too bad my other class doesn't let out early enough to allow me any time off.

So starting tomorrow, I will be

Workout Update

Today's run: two laps around the neighborhood with Chloe. 1.6 miles. I think it should count as dexterity training as well, with all the dodging I have to do when she jumps out in front of me, stops suddenly, or sees a rabbit and decides to try and chase it.

Lazy Week

It's been the best of weeks... as far as reading goes. I read about 8 books in the last 8 days, and while Twilight was okay but utterly mundane as far as books go, and Dead and Gone was a fun new romp in Sookie's very different world, I utterly enjoyed American Wife and began to feel a lot more sympathy for our former first lady (even though the plot of the story is fiction, some of its structure is strongly emphasized by Laura Bush's biography). I was also touched by the sadness, fear, and self-loathing in Revolutionary Road.

It's been the worst of weeks (or at least, not that great) as far as exercise goes. My run earlier in the week was hard, and the run I took Thursday was even worse. I wasn't feeling as run down, and even was working into a good groove, when pain in the front of my leg, near my ankle, caused each step to be more painful, so I ended 2.5 miles running and biked on the stationary cycle for about 3 miles. Today I ran 2 laps around the neighborhood, about 1.6 miles.

This week has been a challenge in other ways as well. I have felt the weight of my exhaustion this week more than usual, which is odd, because I am sleeping better than I have in a long time. I'm falling asleep more easily at night, not waking up as often at 3 or 4 am, and having an easier time getting back to sleep in the early morning when I do.

This in part is because I'm back in my nice, wonderful mattress instead of the Baker's 40-yr-old saggy baggy mattress which used to hurt my back, but now that I'm getting close to an average of 7-8 restful hours a night, why am I still so tired?

My exhaustion is like a heavy coat, I carry it around with me every day, uncomfortably lugging its weight. It makes me feel slower, think slower, move more slowly, read more slowly. Sex seems beyond an abstract thought (I can't sit in bed in the dark without falling asleep), and it's difficult for me to move myself to do much that doesn't involve lying on the couch.

I understand that a week of sleeping, napping, and lying around is not uncalled for in a busy life, I'm just concerned I need so much of it and feel worried that no one is taking me too seriously yet. The Baker kindly says, aren't I just getting older? Haven't the doctors suggested that I'm just getting older?

Most of the time I know that it's more than that, but occasionally those questions make me doubt myself. That would be even worse, though. If this is how run down I feel at thirty, I can't imagine lasting much longer than a few more years before needing to park myself in a rest home permanently.

Another Day, Another Run

Today was one of those days that my legs felt like lead, but I promised myself I could end my run after 3.5 miles. I pushed through, and made it to 4.67 miles, with 32 minutes at varying elevations. The last mile was the easiest, effortwise, though it was the fastest and with the most elevation.

Although I've put off going to the doc to have a look at the cyst on my thyroid. I don't know if that is what is making me so tired all the time, but if it's fixable, I hope that's the case. I'm tired of being tired with no reason. When I get a full night's sleep, I am usually exhausted again by 11 am. Then I perk up after lunch, especially if I get a nap, and get overly sleepy again in the afternoon.

It's even harder dragging myself to work out when I feel like I've been wrung out most of the day. It's so much easier to nap, or sit quietly watching tv and napping from time to time.

Still Sweating

Friday I did another round of Sculpt 1-2, and
yesterday I ran two laps around the neighborhood with Chloe (with a brief pit stop. Geez she can get antsy if I don't finish picking up her poop fast enough!) and completed another round of level 1 of Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred. I've been doing this workout since January, and while it doesn't get me as hard as it did the first couple of times, I still feel that I'm not moving ahead enough to go up a level. Of course, it would probably help to do the tape more than twice a month....

The real kicker of the video is the strength work. The cardio and abs barely phase me (although the cardio used to tire me a lot faster). During the workout, Jillian has us doing lower body work like squats and lunges while doing upper body work at the same time. I use my lightest weights (three pounders), but my arms get so tired out during those exercises I usually have to start alternating arms or lift one 3 lb weight with both hands instead of one with each hand. These are movements that I am used to doing with 8 lb weights in other workouts. My legs are usually pretty steady as well, although I am still not letting my knee go all the way to the ground in the static lunges.

I like the video, but I'm not sure what it does for me other than boost my endurance. I get more solid strength work with my Tony Horton videos, and the cardio effect is rather limited as well. I feel tired out by the end, but not really like I've strength trained enough or done enough cardio.

Injury and Workout

So this week has been a little slower than expected. Monday was promising. I did my normal weights routine(Sculpt 1-2) with a little more weight on biceps, and took Chloe on a short walk. Tuesday I had a great interval run, with 1 minute interval of slower running, 1 minute of running at about .5mph faster, and 30 seconds at .4 mph faster or more sprints. I finished 6.04 miles.

On the other hand, I also fell down the stairs on my back. I felt okay but sore on Tuesday. Wednesday I felt bad; my back (and upper butt) was throbbing with little with little provocation. I took Wednesday as a rest day.

Yesterday, Thursday, I went to run because my soreness was only bothering me if I bumped my bruised bits. I walked for a little while, but when I started to run, by bruised bits started to wiggle up and down as I ran. Running wasn't too bad except for the pain as I hit the treadmill step after step. I ended up walking about 3.2 miles, much of it at an increasing incline.

I've come to the end of this week with a conclusion: I need to add more calcium to my diet. If I can fall this easily during my early thirties I need to have hips of virtual steel for my old age. Clumsiness is such a curse.

Running Update

I ran 5.07 miles yesterday. 42 minutes was at an elevation of 1.0 or above, and 36 of those minutes at 2.0 and above, most at 2.5 or 3.0% elevation. And it felt pretty good, too. Of course I only ran at about 5.5-5.7 mph, but it was invigorating. I followed up with Tony Horton's Ab Ripper 100.

I took a rest day on Saturday, literally as well as figuratively. I took quite a nap, and watched a lot of television on my beautiful couch and snuggled with my doggie. Chloe is getting a lot more grey hair on her belly. She's getting to be an old gal.

I did remeasure myself over the weekend, and it appears I've lost an inch on my bust, and my weight is 154 lb instead of 156 lb, but that is in the level of ordinary fluctuation and may be more a mark of retaining water, having eaten lunch, or some other factor.

Kickbox and Exhaustion

I am so smelly that I am sure little stink waves are raising off my body. I only ran 2.73 miles today, but I also took a kickboxing class at the Y (an hour long class with not a lot of warm up and cool down) and I am pretty tired.

I'm actually unsure as to whether I will do my Sculpt 1-2 today since the class involved so many squats, lunges, and other weight training type exercises. I don't know if my tired muscles can take another round today, though I am considering some gentle yoga and an ab workout to round out the day.

I am also considering a nap, but I need to write a quiz, and it wouldn't hurt if I did some reading for work. I have a whole stack of pleasure and history reading that is getting bigger at an exponential rate.

The fence is nice, and it smells lovely, though Chloe running free through the back yard has meant she is free to find a bit of dead rabbit and roll in it. The outdoor bath yesterday was pure joy. Let me tell you, it is easier to keep Chloe in a tub and block her exit than to bathe her with a leash in one hand and a hose in the other.

Workout Update

I'm not sore at all after yesterday's round of Tony Horton's Sculpt 1-2. I am also only a little winded after Jillian Micheals' Cardio Kickbox.

I won't say that it was a disappointing workout; I took it easy for the first half because her tapes usually kick my ass. I don't usually finish her tapes the first time through, and I usually have to grunt a lot while I'm doing them as well. Next time I do this tape (it will be a once a week easy day) I will push it from the beginning.

I'm hoping that it was easy because it's her only purely cardio dvd, or that I'm getting more fit, but it could just be an easier tape, I guess.

I was able to do this workout because my brand new Roku showed up today, and let me tell you, so far the thing is pretty darn cool. Yes, there are only about 12,000 titles on it so far, and many of them are older movies, but they have the Starz catalogue, a lot of old British shows I like, and a lot of the videos I own that I now feel a lot better about getting rid of. Since we decided (read, the Baker decided) that we aren't getting cable at the new place, it also provides me with an outlet for watching guilty pleasure shows like Xena when he's at work all weekend, instead of my much missed Mystery Diagnosis.

That does not mean, however, that I am not for tripling or quadrupling the catalogue and adding on Hulu or other online video sources as well, but it's worth it so far.

Reading

Fitness Update

I was quite sore the day after my first Sculpt workout with Tony Horton. I did the abs portion that evening as well, though my abs weren't all that sore. It was my thighs and glutes that killed me the next day. I did some yoga to alleviate the stretching, and yesterday I did another round of Sculpt with 8 pound weights instead of 5 for the back exercises. I'm not all that sore today, which is welcome, but surprising since after the workout my legs were shaking for the rest of the evening.

Today I ran 3.85 miles, rode the stationary bike for 4 miles, and was planning on running the dog around after dark, but my parents stopped by to see my new house, and since I didn't want to be too smelly for them, I took a shower. I guess I could still run and take another, but with the eczema my doc usually doesn't encourage me to shower twice a day; she says try every other day if possible. I've been especially itchy lately, so I think I shall listen.

Girly

There are sometimes I enjoy a good (or a bad) chick flick, or chick lit book. I love reading Marian Keyes, and watching many of those older Meg Ryan movies. I like wearing sundresses in warm weather. I like the color purple an awful lot, although lately not as much as burnt orange. I like to knit, to sew, and to cook. But there are sometimes nonetheless when I feel that my girly card should be revoked.

I spend less time in the bathroom than my husband, for one. I am a very wash and wear kind of a girl. I only use a hairdryer during cold snaps when I'm feverish (meaning less than once a year.) My summer dress shoes are birks, and I hate heels. I like to play video games (though the ones I play tend towards the gender neutral.) I don't even have a wedding or engagement ring at the moment. We got married a bit quickly, and as time went on, I begain to think it was kind of cool not having rings. It's almost like the relationship is so important we don't need posessions to symbolize it.

One of the things that probably sets me aside the most is my beauty regimen. I wear lipstick sometimes, but very little else by way of makeup. When I was eloping in January, I went to Sephora to get a new lipstick for the occaision, and they tried to get me to buy a lot more; powder, foundation, blusher. I felt so fake with the stuff on, and knew I probably wouldn't wear it again before it expired, so I passed. However, since it was free, they did sign me up for their rewards program. This means that on a weekly basis I get email reminders about what I'm not interested in buying, and special offers on stuff I don't use. Occaisionally I see a sunscreen or a lipgloss, but overall, I'm just a big 'ole tomboy, I guess.

Sometimes I wonder a little, though, how deep this gender idea has permeated. How many more grown women out there would prefer not to wear makeup? How many like me only wear the stuff for job interviews and family weddings? How many of you all feel beautiful without makeup, like I do, or just feel frustrated with the upkeep, which is part of my problem as well?

Some of this does go back to my memories of watching my mother put on her makeup daily, spending 20 minutes or more with the foundation, eyeliner, powder, and all that, and thinking to myself at the end of it, she looks exactly like she did before she put the makeup on!

I can enjoy, just as much as the next girl, looking extra pretty in a nice shade of dark lipstick, but I also am a little distressed at a culture that convinces so many of its women that we aren't pretty enough without all these little enhancements.

The Weight Program, Day 1

I've heard it referred to as happiness weight. With the hectic schedule I have had, it can also be referred to as "stress weight" I think, as well. Still, as I have settled down into domesticity with the Baker I have revved down the workout routine and revved up the eating. Drat his good cooking and large portions!

One of my goals for the summer was to whittle down and fit back into my size 8 dress pants, of which I have several pair. Part of this is pure vanity, and part is frugality. I can't afford a full new wardrobe, and I am tired of clueless college boys asking me if I am pregnant. Right now I weigh 156 pounds, only one pound shy of my highest weight of all time. I'm wearing a 10 or 12 in most clothing, though since most of my clothing isn't fitting and I'm reluctant to buy more larger clothes, I don't wear a wide variety of outfits. Now, this may sound okay to most people, however, I am only 5'4'', and I have a small frame. The positive side of this is that the last time I was near this weight, I was a full 2 sizes bigger in clothing, so at least I'm a thinner 156. Additionally, I love to run, and the more weight I carry, the more my knee problem exacerbates, and the more I can't run and the more weight I gain. It's a lovely catch-22.

I have no weight goal, per se, though I wouldn't mind dropping to the 120s if possible. I guess I'd like to drop 30 pounds all said and done, though if I could comfortably wear my old clothing at 20 pounds less, I'd be thrilled and satisfied. I'm not sure how many inches that means I need to take off my waist, but we'll see how that goes.

The last time I tried this I started keeping records, but I always tend to lose those slips of paper I write things down on, so I decided to report on my progress here. Here are my stats, day 1.

Weight: 156 pounds
Measurements (in inches): 41 chest (no wonder my shirts won't button!)
36 waist
40 abs (around my hip bone level)
20 right thigh
11.5 right bicep

The plan is to move more, to stretch more, and to lift weights regularly,and eat more vegetables. My mileage goal is 15-18 miles a week, 2 yoga or extensive stretches a week, 3 weight training, and additional cardio (I'm going to start kickboxing soon, but I am also loosely following a variety of dvds including Power 90 and some Jillian Michaels). If I keep disciplined about my work this summer, it should be possible. I just can't sit around watching Hulu for too many free hours instead of grading papers!

Right now I'm loosely following Power90, which worked well for me this past fall- I did it for about 40 days before finals, then the holidays, a broken dvd player, and an elopement and moving all occurred in quick sucession. I lost about 7 pounds and a pants size during the time I did it this fall, but the cardio tape ("Sweat") that is part of the workout for 3 days a week tends to bore me fairly quickly, so I might substitute runs and other cardio 2 days a week to keep me from dying of repetition. I also have my eye on being able to begin P90x at some point as well, and hope that Power90 (and Power90 masters) will get me ready for that.

Additionally, I'd like to rev my running back up again. I used to comfortably run around 6.1 mph after warm up, and go as high as 7.4 mph for shorter speed intervals. I could also run 8-10 miles distance for my longer runs without too much effort. Now I'm pushing 5.5 for my regular runs, and 5 miles is about my limit without extensive walking breaks (or chafeage- I'm having a huge arm chafing issue lately that's driving me nuts.) I'd ideally like to be able to get back to that level again, perhaps with a gain- 6.3 mph comfortable speed, and a 9-11 mile long run. That really is secondary, but would be very rewarding.

For today, I finished my Sculpt 1-2 using 5 lb weights for most exercises, and have to wait until it cools off outside later today to run my 2 laps around the neighborhood with Chloe. That's a distance of 1.6 miles.

Hopefully this blog will keep me honest, and plot my progress. I promise that this set up is probably longer than most of my updates will be, but now that I've set the parameters, let's see how it goes!

New House

After one false move, in which we made an offer on a house we discovered needed about as much work as it was worth and then decided not to go with it, we finally found the house of our dreams for a little more than we would have liked but definitely a home we would not have been able to afford if it weren't for the housing slump. It's a beautiful tri-level in the suburbs, a mile north of the first house. I can't believe I've gone suburban again, but it is nice to be able to always have a parking spot in my own driveway. We moved in about 2 weeks ago, and there are still boxes all over the bottom floor, and many things that have not found places yet, but we're getting there.

After 3 years without a proper closet, I'm also ecstatic to report that I have two large ones; one in the master, and one in the guest bedroom. We also have 3 bathrooms. Some days I shower in a different bathroom just for fun!

This summer should prove to be rather busy. I'm teaching an online and an in-person course. I am writing an article for a book on Buffy, I'm prepping for my fall courses, and I'm trying to lose 20-30 pounds. Oh, and if I could fit in some work on my dissertation it would probably be a good idea, too. (And the Baker would probably be happy if I did some more unpacking.)

Tomorrow is my big initial weigh and measure in so that I have some standard to go by. I will then let you know about the trials and tribulations, the agony and the ecstasy, etc.

New Marriage

It's been a while since I've written to you all about what has been going on, mostly because I've been too busy living instead of writing.

The very nice baker I told you about is now my husband; we eloped to the court house in January. We're sharing a house with his best friend at the moment and looking for our own. it's wonderful to be in a situation where I'm treated with respect and partnership, but I also love him to pieces.

I'm still teaching, and adding on new schools every semester it seems. I will be teaching a couple of online classes next fall, which will further my ability to teach without adding to my gasoline bill.

My heart is actually very full right now, which is a new thing for me. There are, of course, all the little annoyances that usually creep in. For example, students who skip class but refuse to believe they'll fail if they only attend once every couple of weeks or the difficulties of sharing a small house with one adult I'm married to, one adult I'm not, and one bathroom, but these are all background noise. I'm happy in love, I'm growing in my job, and I'm looking for a new home to nest into. I'm looking forward to growing the relationship between the Baker and I, and also taking some time (for the first time in about a decade) to nurture myself and interests as well as friendships outside my marriage.

Life is sweet.