Day 73 - A bit of a mish mash

Today's blog doesn't really have any theme or direction to it. I've noticed that most of my recent ones have (quite rightly) focused on the coronavirus and the almost overwhelming sense of helplessness I've been feeling this far away from home, and those I love. 

It has been so difficult, watching developments back home and not being able to do much about it. I know you can't do it all now, but there should be no reason not to spend time with those that you love, those that you care about. Friends and family. Don't neglect them, don't take them for granted, make that call. Being 4000 miles away sucks at times, don't use smaller distances as an excuse. It frustrates me when I see people not taking opportunities that not all of us have (for whatever reason).

Anyway, now that I'm locked down for the next 3 weeks (minimum) there was a real worry that I'd continue on the same vein and forget the purpose of this blog - to stay in contact with folks and give them some insight into life in the USofA. 

Once this clears I'll be back on the road again and hopefully giving you a broader sense of what it is like down here on the banks of Old Blue. But form now I hope you'll indulge me some "me me me" time as I take you through what life looks like for Doctor Tom at the moment!

I've not managed to quite keep up with my 5 things I wanted to do, primarily as two of them involved being outside. But I have still been trying new things (and trying to re-invigorate old things) as I've been pottering along.

Spanish

I've been at this for a while now and I'm getting competent enough to be able to read bits in Spanish magazines and newspapers. Which is nice. Only bits though, and my vocabulary is still woefully short of poor even! But I can pick up sentence structure and I'm beginning to get the hang of written Spanish too. The big test is obviously going to come once I get out and about and begin to meet people who speak it. That'll come after the virus clears.

Gym/Yoga

The gym is closed now. But I've readjusted and got myself a daily exercise routine - plus a couple of runs a week. The weight is coming off slower than it did at the start but I'm losing inches all round (well, not ALL around) so that's good. I've also recently taken up yoga with the brilliant Adriene. I'm doing the 30 days of Yoga one at the moment and am already noticing the difference in flexibility. Though my knees do make noises they never used to!

Take up a new hobby

I have a couple of exciting developments on the way here. 

As well as becoming a full-on 3D jigsaw addict (check out Winterfell now, the main castle is done) I'm soon to be frustrating my neighbours as I try to learn to play the piano. I've got no music talent whatsoever, but what the hell eh? Problem is that the delivery is delayed for coronavirus so it might be a few weeks before it arrives. As long as I can play something recognisable by the time I come back I'll consider it a success. Hopefully you may even get a Katie/Daddy duet when I get good enough - but not yet.

The other one is a secret. Till it arrives on Saturday. Can't give all my secrets away in one blog. But I will give you a hint. Think small. And cute. And no, it's not a pet.

Challenges
Two 10km runs done. And I'm itching for another one. But I'll have to wait until the virus looks like it is clearing up before I commit to anything serious. And the sky-dive is still on. As soon as I can confirm the date I'll be after money for Christie. So be prepared :-) I'm still hopefully I can get 6-10 in this year, but again we'll see.

Other post virus stuff
Once I'm allowed out again I've got even more irons in the fire. I've joined the Baton Rouge Sunday Social Running Club (here), just waiting to get out now. And I've got plans to join a few of the local disk golfers for a round or two. Plus when sport comes back I've got my eyes on a baseball/softball league and a bit of over-40s soccer when I finally pass the milestone.

So despite everything, life is busy. In these uncertain times it is the best way to be. It hurts to dwell on the past, so I'm trying not to. And the future has so much going for it. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Till then, Tom

Day 30 - Keep it rolling

The hardest part about setting out on a path, is keeping on in when you hit that first bump in the road. I guess you could argue that the trick is to avoid those bumps as best you can - then you'll never have to recover from a bump!

10 miles before Breakfast

Today was one of those days. I had a really good weekend, and woke up this morning full of beans and ready to roll. I probably shouldn't have checked my email first thing - the problem about being 6 hours behind a lot of your work colleagues means a clear inbox when you leave in the evening is rarely so when you arrive back in the next day. 

But outside that I hit today (and the gym, twice in fact) full of energy, which is so important when you are trying to develop good habits. God knows I picked up enough bad ones quickly enough over the last few months and years, so it is vital to give yourself every possibility of picking up good ones. It takes willpower and, more importantly, a reason to want to. A reason to fight yourself when the inevitable opportunity arises to "just skip today". 

Late night stretches

Now I appreciate it is really easy to say that today. Today was day one of my post-run exercise regime - call it about day 12/13 of my overall plan. 

It is also day 30 of blogging (almost) every 24 hours. And day 5 of learning Spanish. These seem small victories, nothing to be proud of really. 

But they are things to be proud of. They are victories, and all victories count. And little breeds bigger.

Every journey has a first step as they say. And a second. They say the first one is the hardest, but maybe that isn't actually the case. Maybe, sometimes, it is that metaphorical second step that can be a bit harder. The one that comes once the euphoria has worn off. The one that follows the honeymoon period. The one when you realise that this isn't a phase, or a fad. 

This is it. The one that really matters. The one that pushes you from something you are trying, to something you are committed to being part of your routine. And every step you take from here becomes easier. Every step is you travelling the path, not trying to find it. And that is so so important. 

You've got to give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed. The best chance of just quieting that voice in your head. The one we all have. The one that offers the "easy" way out. But nothing worth pushing yourself for should ever be easy, at least not until you've got a few steps down that path. 

Take that second step. Keep rolling. That's the journey we should all strive for.

Till tomorrow, Tom

PS - I feel you back home with Storm Ciara

Day 1 - Howdy H'Town

First day back in Houston.

Weight 15st 12lb. 

Back in the familiar environment of the noise of downtown where they seemingly like to move their trains only under the cover of night! However jet lag has already grabbed me at around 3am and doesn't seem overly inclined to let me go. Standard occurrence really but I thought I'd got the hang of it by now.

However, as part of my new plan to spend more time doing things and less time thinking about doing things a quick 4am gym session seems just what the doctor (not me, a real one) would order. 

Nothing like having the gym all to oneself, despite the minor annoyance of the lights going off halfway through. 

Sitting on a bike (and riding obviously before any smartarses shout up) apparently isn't quite enough to establish light and so the final half of the session is done in almost complete darkness.


Back for a quick shower and then I managed to catch the first sunrise of my American adventure.

Cameras never do enough justice to the view but it is actually quite beautiful as far as sunrise in a city go. There is something about the anticipation of waiting for what the day is going to bring that makes the first rays of the day quite relaxing, and something I plan to see more of this year.

Obviously it is not a patch on being out in the countryside or somewhere more remote but all things considered I think this is a positive omen to start things off.

Tomorrow it is back to the project grind, but after nearly five years it feels like we are approaching the endgame of it. It's been hard but ultimately rewarding. The work-life balance is even more important when you are away from home, and a big part of that is finding yourself exciting things to do. 

I'm fortunate in that I really do love my job, but this year is all about making sure I love what I do outside of work as well. The only question is where to start! :-)

Till tomorrow, Tom