Oprah Would Be Proud of Me

First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who responded to my last post. You are all awesome and right, and this is going to sound like I'm being snarky, but I'm not: a vacation, exercise, milkshakes, good music, flowers, inspiration, a to-do list, a schedule, and a reward system are exactly the things I need to help myself get going.

The only one I'm currently on top of is the exercise thing: I've been getting a little run in about three times a week, with the goal of not embarrassing myself in a 5k Labor Day Weekend. It does feel good to run, and sweat, and get some endorphins moving again. After what, two years? of early miscarriages and then hormones and pregnancy and childbirth and recovery and breastfeeding, it feels amazing to have my body back to normal (although "normal" is somewhat older than where I left it). I'm trying to enjoy it while I can, before the babylust hits and I get back on the merry-go-round.

(I don't think it's a thyroid problem, by the way, but I really appreciate the suggestion, and if my energy doesn't improve in a few weeks, I'll definitely look into it).

The vacation thing is going to have to take a back seat for the moment (we'll be flying to Florida next weekend to see Mr. Newt's family, but I have a feeling that four days with the in-laws bracketed by a nerve-wracking plane ride with a six-month-old is not quite a prescription for romance. My in-laws are delightful, though, and I'm looking forward to the newtlet's first swimming experience. Special bonus: I'll get to wear my girdly bathing suit. Score!)

So that leaves us with music, inspiration, and a to-do list/schedule/system of rewards. All right, I'm going to i-tunes now to get something new and awesome. That's my to-do for right now.

Meanwhile, the weirdest thing happened right after I wrote that last post. It was like an episode of Oprah or something, internet, I couldn't believe it. I closed the browser window, and opened my email, and there was a forwarded message from the head of the local center for children and families noting that they need volunteers.

How weird is that? I ask the universe for a way to get my mojo back, just like Oprah says to do, and the universe is all like "Hey Newt, how about you quit your bitching and go out and do something useful for somebody else for a change?" And I was like "OK, geez, you don't have to be such an asshole about it, universe. I could have a thyroid problem or something, you know."

So anyway, I'm going to go to the volunteer orientation next week, but don't go thinking I'm getting all lovey-dovey and shit. Given that I'm not exactly a people person, I'm almost certainly going to hate it. But I'm going to do it anyway, and we'll see what happens.

And then the universe is going to buy me a milkshake. At least I think that's how this works--I guess I'll have to check with Oprah.