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i'm winter // 2002-04-02

someone wrote about this girl, lemonaide, that she's "summer". if she's summer, then i'm winter. but winter in all the good ways.

i'll quietly snow and blanket the trees with white. i'll invite you in and warm you up when it's cold. i'm the tingling sensation in your toes. when spring finally does come, maybe you'll be glad to see her, but you'll appreciate her more because i was there.

(ok, that's enough poetics.)

i'm at home now, trying not to be sick. i'm in my bed, the best bed in the world (my grandmother's old cast-iron bed that i painted black, piled high with pillows, outfitted in luscious grey and musky purple calvin klein sheets--the biggest indulgence i've ever made.) my cat and sidekick, pal, is curled up at my side--he never does that--the tv is on, and i have everything i need within reach. juice, videos, phone, computer, lip balm, magazines, and chemistry homework. i'm going to enjoy this while it lasts...

i told heidi at work today that her term with us was going to be cut short, and surprisingly, it went well. i felt like such a heel, but we had a great talk and i came away feeling better about myself simply because she is so positive. the message i repeatedly hear lately is that i need to take better care of myself. i take my health for granted, and that could all change so fast. i'm 27 and i'm supposed to be in the prime years of my life, and i'm doing squat with it.

with all that in mind, here are my health resolutions:

• set up schedule to work out at least three times/week: swim once, lift weights once, and do yoga or go running once
• eat breakfast before class every morning (note that breakfast does not equal pastries or doughnuts, even if they are vegan and delicious)
• eat at least four smaller meals a day, instead of two large ones
• monitor protein intake to make sure i'm getting enough
• no more mid-afternoon trips to kiki's candyland
• limit coffee intake to no more than two cups/day
• drink at least 8 cups water/day
• register for triathlon this week and set some goals
• go on bike rides with mom

ok, that's definitely enough. i don't want to be too ambitious and ultimately let myself down.

i feel better already.

before // after