For the past few days, in our house, the heat has actually been going on in the mornings and sometimes even in the early afternoon. The tick-tick-tick of the baseboard heat has a sort of soothing sound. This morning, waiting for the school bus with my son, we were jumping up and down to keep warm. Fall is definitely here.
While fall has typically been my favorite season, this year we aren’t exactly the best of friends. That is because it is starting to get in the way of my regular routine. The mornings are getting increasingly dark. I get myself ready to go at the normal time, but then I have to actually wait for the sun to come up far enough so I can see. I am like a runner at the starting gate. First it was 7 a.m., then 7:05, and now 7:13. It is getting to the point where I either need to cut my outdoor workout shorter or give it up altogether, since otherwise I won’t be back at the house in time in order to get everyone else out the door and where they need to go. already I had given up the shower until after the school bus left.
This morning, it was obvious that the sun just wasn’t coming up in time for me, so I popped down the stairs to the basement to use the elliptical. While I enjoy working out on this machine, it just is a bit more boring. With my outdoor walks and runs, I can have conversations with myself, say hello to horses, ground hogs and goats, and enjoy the beauty of the homes and farms in my neighborhood. With the treadmill, I find myself distracting myself with YouTube previews of Mad Men.
The cold air outside in the mornings is also affecting both my lungs and my muscles. It takes me a longer time to warm up before my legs will run, and I find my lungs burning more and sooner. Still, it was all worth it yesterday, when I felt light and comfortable in my favorite jeans.
One more obstacle. Saturday, I volunteered at the school’s pumpkin festival. Guess where they put me? The bake sale table! Still, I had a lot of fun selling the wonderful cakes, cookies and treats and living vicariously though all of the buyers. And no, I did not bring a single treat home. On Sunday, I did buy some yummy-looking pumpkin “whoopie pies” from trader Joes, though. The kids loved them, but I found them too sweet! It is amazing how my taste is already changing.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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