So, instead of being scandalized by the highly improper adventures of Kate and Cecy on their Grand Tour, or respective honeymoons, I am writing this post about how absolutely sore I am.  I figured you ought to know.  That way, I get to complain to someone.  Else. 

Rich and I went for a few not-so-strenuous walks and runs last week, but we didn't do a whole lot.  On Friday I played soccer with my family and another family, which was fun.  I didn't do a whole lot then.  Saturday was a pretty relaxed day, too.  Sunday, however ... well, Sunday was different.

We went to Calvary Chapel's service that morning -- the worship was good, and I enjoyed the teaching.  I'm generally extraordinarily skeptical and hard to teach via sermon, and I didn't agree with everything he said, but it was enjoyable.  Bob Caldwell is a good speaker, and although I personally, and my family, do not agree with the authoritative church structure, he is pleasantly humble in what I do not feel to be a false way.  I'm not 'attending' the church, nor do I have any plans to get involved in it, but for a bit of teaching to get me thinking on various points, he'll do nicely.  And I do love singing.   

With barely time to eat after church, we went to my soccer game.  I've signed up to play soccer, as I may have mentioned, on a team with my sister.  It's an adult women's league, and I was quite nervous about playing.  I kick the ball around with my siblings on occasion, but I haven't played on a team since I was about 12 or 13 years old.  Quite a while ago.   I requested to play in the back, and after a few good pointers from the other members (we don't exactly have a coach, more a team captain) I was playing right along.  We had a good offensive lineup, who kept the ball mostly on the other side of the half-line, so I didn't get too much strenuous play.  I lost the ball a couple of times, and took it away at least once.  I was kicked in the knee, knocked violently to the ground, and shoved a lot.  The girl who was the other team's offense on my side seemed to resent my presence.  I took that to mean I was doing a good job, and enjoyed myself immensely.  We won 2-1.

Promptly after the game Rich and I were approximately 35 minutes late for a potluck Passover celebration at a friend's church -- I hadn't remembered or realized that my halves would be 45 minutes long, and that was obviously cutting it too close.  Especially considering that I wasn't totally prepared, and had to stop by the store to get the beverages I was assigned to provide.  Everyone was gracious about our tardiness, though, and it was a fascination ceremony.  I have read before about the Seder, and the various meanings of the ritualized drinkings and samplings of bitter herbs and such, but I'd never attended one before. 

So, today, I have been feeling slightly ill from too much sugary and not-prepared-at-my-house food, my knee is extraordinarily tender, my legs hurt, my foot is trying to cramp every so often, I have a nice bruise on my chest, and I think I strained my side back when I did the somersault in the field yesterday ... 

Some pain is rewarding.

The Aching Anemone

I'm finding it somewhat difficult to remember what the specifics of Thursday and Friday were ...  We watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Thursday night, me for the first time and Rich for the millionth I'm sure, which made it feel exceptionally Friday-like.  Friday I went to a massage class with a friend, which was quite enjoyable, and I learned a lot.  Mostly that there's not as much to massage as you might think, in the basics, anyway, but probably more than I think in the more experienced techniques.  Oh, well.  I guess I just need to practice a bit, and be ready for the more advanced class in three weeks. 

On Saturday we went for a hike -- it was measured to be at least 5 or 6 miles, some running, some uphill, some with a kid on my back.  Good exercise.  Sunday was a good day for working out, too; breakfast at my parent's house, and then Rich and my brother and I all went for a run / walk for 8 miles.  I was feeling a leetle wobbly by the end of that, I assure you. 

So, today's my day off.  I went to dinner with a friend, ate far more than I should have (including a strawberry milkshake!) and I'm now relaxing on the couch with a cup of tea, considering going to bed at 8pm.  Which, considering the time change, is about 7pm 'normal body time.'  Eh.  Sometimes you just get tired.  Perhaps I'll get up a bit earlier than usual. 

Bye for now,
Anemone