Life Viewed Through an Amber Focus

So I've been feeling quite a lot better lately after six weeks with that horrible, horrible fu.  The only things really hanging on at this point are the drainage (which is way better than congestion) and the exhaustion (which is starting to improve).  Haven't had a fever since Wednesday.  Thursday, during one of the rare sunny moments in the day the kids and I went for a walk.  Not very far mind you, we did a total of about two blocks, because I was testing my knee strength, but I think it has mostly healed now, which is brilliant.  So next walk attempt (if the weather ever clears up again) will be all the way around the block.  Eventually we'll get back to walking a mile a few times a week.

Yesterday we got back into the pool.  I figured I'd be so far out of shape I'd only be able to swim a couple of laps and I'd be done for.  I was pleasantly surprised to do 13 (1/4 mile).  I felt like I could do more, but I refuse to push myself too hard.  I just got over the flu and my knee is almost normal again.  So I will work up slowly to half a mile, but I don't think I'm ever going to push past that again.  When I was doing 3/4 of a mile is when I overdid it and messed up my knee for the second time.  I like being able to walk like a regular person again.  I love my new swimsuit, too.  The skirt is short enough it doesn't get in my way when I do the crawl stroke, but long enough to make me happy.  And the top is properly supportive without my having to worry about falling out of it with an aggressive push off the pool wall.

Allergies are starting to hit with full force what with the hyacinth, forsythina, flowering cherry trees, and dogwoods all in bloom.  It's gorgeous with all that pink and yellow (hee, Rose reference) but the pollen I could do without.  Fortunately there is Zyrtec.

I have to go to WalMart (ugh) and Costco today and fill up the gas tank.  I hate pumping gas, though with a 12 gallon tank it is pretty quick.  Hate to see what the damage will be though.  Probably $45.  I don't know what it is, but I start getting annoyed when gas costs more per gallon than milk.  Even when we drive so little that a tank lasts 3 weeks.  It might be the principle of the thing.

No swimming today, but we'll likely go tomorrow.  If the weather breaks we will likely go out for a short walk though.  Exercise feels pretty good right now.  Then this evening I will open up Leap of Faith and see what I can do about finishing a chapter.

Well, I swam 42 laps tonight.  I think I crossed some kind of line because I didn't get tired or feel like I was pushing myself at all.  The biggest hurdle was actually convincing myself to go to the pool tonight.  Once I got there, I was pretty single-minded and eager to swim.  I didn't have that struggle with the first 20 laps like I normally do.  It was all easy.  My arms definitely feel used tonight though.

I got quite a bit of writing done last night and today.  I finished ch. 5 of Three Hour Tour and sent it to beta.  I'm well into ch. 6.  I've written 650 words on Amy's b'day fic and I'm about 3000 words into the next chapter of Leap of Faith.  I hope to finish the LoF chapter tomorrow or the next day.

Oh, and in case anyone was curious, the kids are still thriving in school.  They both really love it.  So do I.  It gives me more time to write again, which is so nice.