Life on the Mason Dixon Line

July 1: OK, so I know I cannot write it out every day. Sometimes I Tweet it, sometimes Facebook, sometimes here. At least the Tweets will be in the Smithsonian if our server crashes. Today’s discomfort was again related to food. I love to eat the best piece/part last. Save the best for last, right? Well, sometimes I get too full and don’t get to the best part. Or sometimes Paul snatches it off my plate (or off my fork). But it is hard to change a habit you have done for 37 years. Today I ate the inside pieces first. You know–the crust-less pieces that are formed when thin crust pizza is cut into squares? Love those. OK, full disclosure–it wasn’t first, but it was second, third, and fourth. OK, and fifth. How’s that for discomfort–telling the world I chowed down on pizza today. But they were LITTLE squares…. REALLY!

June 23 (by now I think we know this is 2011, right?): PACE Masters Swim Team practice, 5:45am. No, that is not what made me uncomfortable. Not even when Coach Matt put me in the fast kid lane. Nope, it came from the 100m intervals. On the 2 min clock. What that means is that every 2 minutes we had to start a 100 m swim. Basically the faster you swim, the more rest you get. Or in my case, the longer over 2 minutes it took you to swim the 100m, the further behind you got on the next interval.

• Round 1: I feel like I did pretty well, but don’t have a watch on so I am not sure how much rest I will have. Jane (swimmer #1 in our lane–she swam competitively at UNC-Chapel Hill), takes off on Round 2 as I tag the wall to finish Round 1. Uh oh.
• Round 2: OK, not so bad. Same result. At least I kept up. (…for now…)
• Round 3: Jane and I pass each other as I finish #2. Lori, swimmer #2 in our lane–also a former college swimmer), takes off on Round 4 as I tag the wall. Justin, swimmer right in front of me said, “I think I am in the wrong lane!” I tried to be encouraging, “2 [gasp, gasp] more [gasp, gasp]…” Coach Matt paces the  sideline correcting us, “This is MEANT to be hard!”
• Round 4: I am 37 and I am uncomfortable.
• Round 5: Jane, Lori and Anita (swimmer #3 in our lane–she won her age group in the half iron triathlon) start as I flail towards the wall. Justin starts as I tag the wall. I want to draw out a looooonnnng deep breath, mostly to stall and rest. Nope, just gasping. For 2 minutes.

But I survived. I was uncomfortable, scared, wanted to quit and didn’t. I quit quitting. I quit fear. I am 37 after all!

June 21, 2011: cottage cheese on pasta salad. AND orange bell pepper. That really should count as two days worth. Thanks, Ruthan!

June 20, 2011: mountain biking w Paul and Brad, a friend and former colleague. Nuff said.

Photo was from a mtn bike trip last year. Most of my outings end up bloody, but not today--only bruised. Paul may have to replace my brake pads after today's trip though.

Introduction

Many of you know I love themes. They give order to what could otherwise be random chaos. Well, people, that chaos can be my life at times. I know, I know… you are probably surprised; but yes, I am chaotic at times. Ask Paul, he’ll tell ya! So as I neared my 37th birthday, I considered what that theme would be this year.

Many of you know I am scared…Of everything. Vegetables, pain, success, failure, being alone, being a wife, a mother, a boss, second guesses, not enough guesses… Ask Paul, he’ll tell ya! This may seem weird to some, but I try to get over fear (I am afraid of being paralyzed by fear): I am afraid of open water—I’ll start doing triathlon! Afraid I won’t find a job–I’ll get a masters degree! Afraid I will be a crazy old cat lady–I’ll do online dating!

ENOUGH! Every day of my 37th year, I will do something that makes me uncomfortable, scared even! And I will chronicle it all here for your enjoyment! If you have suggestions (let’s not call them dares, I am afraid of playing Truth or Dare), post them here.