Some Very Good News... and a Dash of Bad

Now we turn to another edition of Good News/Bad News...

The good news... My anxiety level is pretty low today.

The bad news... I may have just jinxed myself.

The good news... I read over 300 pages of a book in 2 days!

The bad news... That book was NOT War and Peace (Only 200 pages left! I just need to stop getting distracted by other more appealing and less tedious books.)

The good news... I spent some quality time with Horatio and a couple of girlfriends last night.

The bad news... It was the first time in the last 3 weeks I didn't fit in some form of exercise in my daily routine. But I think my priorities were in line-- It's Horatio!

The good news... I had fish for dinner last night. Fish is good for you, right?

The bad news... I guess not. It was a Fish Filet from Wendy's...

The good news... I have a game plan for those girls I supervise for Visiting Teaching.

The bad news... I have yet to implement said game plan.

The good news... My best friend is getting married!

The bad news... She's getting married and moving to Missouri. Her beau is going to Med School out there. WHAT?!

The good news... I'm getting a promotion of sorts at work!

The bad news... It's because this engaged friend is moving to Missouri.

Let me tell you about this friend... Like many of my closest friends, we have known each other for years and years. All the way back to Jr. High, though some of us go back as far as Elementary. I am not always the easiest person to get along with, and this friend has very patiently put up with my various neuroses over the years. This friend has known when to encourage (drag me kicking and screaming) on certain issues and when to leave well enough alone. And that's what the very best kind of friend does-- They let you be who you are, but try and help you be just a little bit better at the same time. I love all of my funny and wonderful friends and can say without a doubt that they have saved me several times during the course of our little friendships. This friend especially. And I am so happy for her!

Evergreen Jr. High Promotion, 2001

Olympus High School, Class of 2004

University of Utah, Class of 2009

GNO at The Garden

Cliffs of Dover

Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park

Movin' & Groovin'

Due to the lovely weather conditions, I had to try and fit my 40 minute walk into a room that is no bigger than a large shoe box. Fooey. But I managed quite nicely and opted for my own private dance party instead. My only guests were a couple of wrist weights, a large exercise stretchy band, and my own dancing feet.

Over the weekend I ventured over to Liberty Park for my walkies/joggies-- I've graduated to jogging! But only as long as it's divided up during the course of my walk. Psh, as long as I'm moving I don't care if it's walking, jogging, skipping, or crawling. Anyhoo... Saturday I was looking forward to listening to some recently-purchased music on my iPod, Gidget II. There was one song I was especially excited for because I'd heard it a number of times on the radio over the past couple weeks or so. It was the perfect walking song, nay--STRUTTING song. And that got me thinking of some of my favorite songs to walk to. Sometimes I'll just turn Gidge on shuffle and jive to whatever comes on, but when I want to get down to business and cover some serious ground I will turn to a very specific selection. Some of it's eighties, some oldies, some hip-hop, some alternative, some pop, and even some folk. It is a veritable 31 Flavors of musical deliciousness. Some are more appropriate for a casual pace while others are better for a brisk trot. However, I have narrowed down these musical selections to the very best and brightest. The following is a list of what I like to call The Catwalk, perfectly suited for a long stride power walk. Listen to any of these little beauties and you will own whatever sidewalk, treadmill, or race track you're traversing. Just don't bust into a full-blown dance routine... 

#1 "More" Usher - This is the song I mentioned earlier that caught my ear on the radio. I feel like a machine when I'm walking to this. I think it was composed from pure endorphins. And if you don't believe me, take a listen.

#2 "Can You Feel It?" - Oooooo, especially this one...

#3 "Rock With You"

#4 "Shake Your Body Down"

#5 "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"

#6 "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"

These are all Michael Jackson. What else do you need to know?

#7 "Got To Give It Up" Marvin Gaye - It's like a party for your ears.

#8 "Mercy" Duffy - You're calves will be begging you for mercy after this one.

#9 "Let's Groove" Earth, Wind, & Fire - It's like an after-party for your ears. (Side note: I am the missing element from Earth, Wind, & Fire... and if you don't get it then I'm not going to explain it!)

#10 "Uptown Girl" Billy Joel - To turn the heads of all those downtown guys.

#11 "Say A Little Prayer For You" Aretha Franklin

#12 "My Love" Justin Timberlake

That doesn't even scratch the surface, but maybe it gives you an idea of what kind of music gets me motivated. It's really anything with a good beat that makes me feel like dancing, even if I'm just dancing inside myself. I don't think poppin' and lockin' around the block would be very appropriate, though it does have a nice ring to it. I have another list of alternative rock that is a little more fast-paced for whenever I feel up to a jog. It's music that might be appropriate for an angry dance a la Kevin Bacon in Footloose. We'll save those for a later post since it will take me a while to weed out my favorites. 

Thank goodness for good music.