Wednesday, October 17, 2007

What goes up must come down

Sorry in advance, this is mostly a venting post for my own mental health. Skip it if you want to read about training or PRs or were looking for light reading. I'll try to keep it brief in case you go ahead and read on...

After having an awesome day on Monday, things seem to have gone downhill fast.

#1) I got a call that my dad has been in the hospital for a few weeks with some complications after getting a flu or something like that. Neither my sister or I are on great terms with our dad. Realizing that some day (soon or in the future) we are going to be forced to make some decisions on his behalf really shook things up.

#2) I received an anonymous note complaining about Bandit's barking during the day while we're at work. We've had him since January and nobody has said anything to us before. I know the recent balloon fiesta really freaked him out. Should I assume this is a new issue? Has it been going on for months? I want to take care of the problem, but since the note-writer didn't have the kahunas to let him/herself be known, I don't know who to ask for more info or to find out if what we try to do to rectify the situation is sufficient. Sigh. I've re-enlisted in-home trainers and they come again next Thursday morning.

#3) Remember when I mentioned work stress for the past few weeks? Whaat I didn't mention is that we're going through layoffs in my department. People have been finding out their status as of this week. My group seems to have been one of the hardest hit. I didn't lose my job, but several of my coworkers did. It hasn't been fun.

#4) Our microwave died. This wouldn't be such a big dea, but with issues 1-3, this is just really bad timing to have to deal with this.

Something to ponder - I wonder if running/biking/swimming makes me happy simply because it temporarily distracts me from the reality of life?!?! Has anyone else ever felt like that??

20 comments:

  1. Like they say, when it rain it pours. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

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  2. What a hard lot of things to have to deal with all at once :(
    (((HUGS)))
    Of COURSE that's what running/cycling swimming is for! You're a Mum - you know about 'me-time'. I think each activity requires a different type of concentration, but overall you have to be so 'in the moment' that it's a huge contrast to the rest of our rushed, crowded lives

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  3. Sorry to hear all that you've been hit with. Yes, I think that's an important part of the whole training thing, you've got to concentrate only on what your doing and yourself, not outside world crap. Best of luck getting through it all, I hope things look up soon.

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  4. Amen... I feel like tht too. getting out for ssome you time, where you are focused on things other than consiquental life is nice. And needed.

    Sorry to hear bout all that is going on.

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  5. Nothing like having a single minded focus to keep us sane. Hang in there, girlfriend! This too shall pass...

    I know that in my neck of the woods, there is no ordinance for dog barking during the day time... It is nice that you want to be considerate of your neighbors.

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  6. (((HUGS)))) chica!! If it's not one thing it's another. Sometimes I feel like that :-/ Hopefully things will be on the up and up soon! I'll be thinking of you! Hang in there!

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  7. That all pretty much sucks!! I have been through the dog barking thing-I think the thing that pisses me off the most is that people don't have the balls to just come over and talk to you. We received a "neighborhood" letter a few years ago where a bunch of neighbors had signed about our barking dogs. I felt so humiliated! Hang in there Lisa-sounds like a hard week..Keep training!

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  8. Just one of those would be tough to deal with, but to have it pile on at once is just plain hard. Hope things look up for the weekend!

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  9. Ohhh, I DEFINITELY feel like running is the getaway from real life sometimes. Sometimes I come back and realize I haven't thought about ANY of it. I feel guilty, like that could have been some good problem solving time, but apparently I need the escape more. I don't think it is a bad thing really.

    I'm sorry about all this, take one thing at a time and you will get through it. Keep running if you can to help your sanity.

    Hang in there.

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  10. What a tough week for you! I hope things improve with your dad's situation. Making those kinds of decisions on his behalf can not be easy in any way.

    As for the anonymous complainer about Bandit...you want me to kick someone's arse?? I'm an Athena. I think I can take 'em! I'll bring my little Shih Tzu Lucy, and once they hear how she yaps, they will think Bandit is a saint!

    Swimming/biking/running is definitely a stress reliever for me. Running seems to help most.

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  11. I'm so sorry, that's really a rough week. I worry about my dog's barking at home during the day too. Do you know any of your neighbors who are at home during the day that you can ask about the barking? When C. is loud they can hear him across the street...from inside their house. :)

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  12. sounds like a really rough week, lisa. hang in there, what do they say about things being darkest before the dawn??

    i think the swimming/biking/running prepares us to deal with the things in our life. it helps us to find focus and calm and gives us a place to go, when we're surrounded by turmoil, that is safe. hang on to that right now.

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  13. At our last house our neighbors complained about our dog and I was upset for weeks. Not at that fact that they complained but at the way they did it. :<( I hope the rest of the week goes much better!

    Yes, my exercise is my "me" time. My time to keep me sane. I have to have it.

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  14. Training always provides the time to either go far away in my mind or work things out. It can be the best therapy when things are running amuck.

    Good luck with all your current challenges.

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  15. Hmm. Just my 2 cents, because I know you are a super nice and reasonable person. Myself, I've tried talking to dog owners about barking and it has never, ever, ever gone well. They got spiteful and snotty and defensive and refused to even consider that it was a problem. So I just call animal control and let them do the talking. I guess I'm one of those that feels that since I've made the decision that I don't want to deal with the barking, that's why I don't have a dog, so I shouldn't have it (barking) thrust upon me against my will...just a thought from the other side.

    On the other subject, I wasn't particularly close to my Dad either and had a lot of mixed feelings at the end that I'm still dealing with. My heart goes out to you. My long runs let me sort a lot of feelings through...maybe a long bike ride would do the same for you.

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  16. Yes, I have felt like that, and in fact, I am pretty much in the same state as you right now.

    We will survive!

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  17. Sorry to hear about the rough spots right now. Especially the lay-offs at work..

    Concerning the dog, hey it is your property and your dog, so screw'em.. Tell them to fess up or leave you alone.

    I think that is the reason we race, train, and put in the hours. To get away from life a little bit and be with some people who have the same interest.

    so go for another ride or run, you deserve it.

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  18. Definitely keep up the training - it is a great stress reliever and it sounds like you've got a lot on your plate lately.
    Hang in there...
    hugs,
    Jenny

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  19. I know exactly what you mean about the half...with mine coming up in January it seems so different from the tri training. I bet you will get excited when the day comes!

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  20. Dude annonymous notes are the WORST. Those cowards should just sack up and complain to your face... that way you can work together to rectify the situation. The annominity factor just ... kinda grates at you. No class.

    Keep hanging in there... and I can kinda agree with the "distration" factor... so easy to get concerned about scheduling a workout in vs. actually worrying about other stuff!

    (((hug)))
    Court

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