I’m not sure if I could keep up with the days of the week if it weren’t for my work schedule. My mind hasn’t reset into auto calendar since the holidays. Snow days might’ve thrown me off and moving across town has messed my loops so I’m not doing the regular daily routine I’m used to. Also I joined the Y this week after a 30 year hiatus.

I’m off kilter, I’m out of my comfort zone. This is exactly what I wanted to do. I can already feel my daily thoughts redirecting into a new radio wave. I’m tuning into it deliberately.

My mind pinged when I rejoined the Y. This is my intuitional signal that I took the right path. I love it when I hit a bullseye. I took around a year off from the gym, from the focus of grinding physically and focused on my inner muscle. That sounded weird.. I did home workouts for the time being. Light weights, ropes and calisthenics. I didn’t get soft I only maintained. I did shrink a little. I don’t like bulky. I like fluid motion. At 54 I’m not trying to squat 350 lbs. I’m doing deep knee stretches and hip flexes.

Lack of mobility kills you faster than noodle arms.

My wife says I have gorilla arms. Not because of their diameter but because my arms can reach limbs from afar.

I was hoping the move would jolt my mind and routines and I’m taking advantage of it. Relocating is a good way to start over on some old ways that have stuck to you over time. Little things become big things if you overlook them. That tiny little hole in your roof doesn’t repair itself.

If you let something drip for too long you’ll eventually need to carry around a bucket.

I drive by the Y on the way to work and back. Two opportunities to change my daily routines and I take advantage of it. New faces, new equipment, new energy. New hood to walk and I can do sprints once again.

I fucking love sprints. Even at 54 I can push off fairly well. You don’t want a hamstring pull when you got a hog chasing you in the woods. Sounds funny as hell until you’ve run into one of these brutes while hiking. Everyone thinks about bears. A hog will fuck you up. Big cats will too. “There aren’t any big cats in SC” I almost hit one on my way home from Baltimore 20 years ago. Jumped in front of my truck in Gaffney on I-85 around 11pm.

“That was probably a deer Chad”

Deers dont have long tails. I’ve also seen a cub in that same area although it may have been a bobcat.

Pspspspspspsp

Random, I always wear a ball cap backwards when hiking the Rockies to deter mountain lions from jumping me from behind. Bears are the last thing on my mind out there.

Always carry if you’re a solo hiker

Where was I?

I mentioned recently I don’t write about work as much. I pulled a work muscle during the holidays. Another reason why I focus on the art of slowing down. I’m reeeealll close to throwing charcuterie out the window. I go through these phases a few times a year. Probably because I haven’t been outside for more than an hour since November.

Moving and inclement weather has kept me busy.

I’ll look at some of my pictures of trips in the spring and I can smell the wind. I’m ready for that smell again. Every state has its own distinct odor.

I was trying for some new music this morning but John Prine calls today.

“I’ve been down this road before
Alone as I can be
Careful not to let my past
Go sneaking up on me
Got no future in my happiness
Though regrets are very few
Sometimes a little tenderness
Was the best that I could do”

Prine was/is the best.

I reckon I’ve got about three more weeks before I can go camping again. Heading to Utah in April again with my bud (again). Looking forward to it greatly. Still gotta find a place for him to sleep.

Tetons post summer. I’ve never had a place scream at me so loudly before. Long drive buddy you gotta give me time. Crested Butte won’t leave me alone either.

If I could measure our move in progress I’d say we are three quarters of the way settled. Not sure when in our evolution it became important to hang a bunch of shit on our dwelling walls but it’s the last step. A bunch of still life pics of us doing activities in exotic places.

2D representations of family members smiling.

Random art projects of friends and purchases.

I don’t like puncturing holes with nails and screws. I can hear the house screaming.

I’m joking

Those wall hanger tape things are complete shit. Itll randomly say “fuck it” and fall off your walls at any given time. You’re sitting at home watching The Price is Right and your hanging pic of deceased Aunt Edna drops dead on the floor.

Again

Sorry that was dark. I don’t have an aunt Edna nor do I have any aunts hanging anywhere in my house.

Think this is a good time as any to wrap this up for the day.

Peace.