Wed 19 Sep 2007
Again… late night but cool in the studio. Thank God the weather broke. The heat up here can be slightly brutal. I always wondered why the galleries in SoHo went on holiday in August. Now I have lived it. My neighbor ( the painter) left for the summer and traded up for a hiatus in Brooklyn. At least she was hot but in NYC. (She has resumed her schedule here and I have resumed annoying her to no end with lots of noise and bad renditions of the “RENT†score and the Beatles).
There are so many things changing here at Chez Mama. Good changes, eventual life changes (my 35th birthday is in the beginning of October. I actually share a birthday with John Lennon… hence the Beatles I think), the cowboy has changed schools (multiple times), and a new schedule.
I am trying like hell to embrace it all, remember that my boy is really, really tired and anxious (hence the incessant whining), and that getting older is good. It is inevitable.
I tend to be of the mindset “Go Big or Go Homeâ€â€¦. It helps me take on life like this big bucking bronco that just wants to be ridden… wants to be tamed. Yeah, well.. I am over the tamed part right now. Buck away, buddy… I am hanging on.
So, that “go big or go home†thing….. Well….
Here is exhibit “Aâ€:
I made the appointment for the Red Door Spa at 11 am…sat in the chair at 2pm and was fully coiffed by 4pm. I left a VERY big tip… the stylist had her work cut out for her ( I let go of at least 6 inches). I really like her… she is very pierced and multi-hair colored and in her early 20’s. She likes me because I am not an entitled wealthy 40-something that asks her is she does her hair like that because of Brittany Spears. I think we have a mutual affection for each other.
Exhibit “Bâ€:
I also *gulp* started running. (I hesitate to tell you because that makes me accountable…)… but I am running. 3 days a week trying to build endurance for a 5k in the spring. I am tired of feeling like that is something that I can never do. I don’t love running… there are some folks out there that *heart* running big time. I am not trying to fool myself that I will love or feed off of it. I am just so freaking tired of feeling like I can’t do that. I pant… I feel like I am dying… but I try like hell. That is the point.
Exhibit “Câ€:
Again with the accountability…. I joined Weight Watchers. That’s right… I said it to the couple hundred folks (I can’t believe that you all add up to a couple hundred! Thanks!) who read this meandering journey of fiber, parenting, and nonsensical commentary. I am in week 3 and doing well. I am not going to give a pound count.. I am down a little and my clothes fit much better. I have been eternally grateful to the folks that I have connected with in the Ravelry Slimdown2tog group. I know a few folks in person and have made more imaginary friends!
So… the times they are a’changin’ here in Baltimore. Change is scary… but hopefully the change will provide some great results for all involved.
And… because I could not resist a gratuitous cowboy picture…..
Here is my baby in his Taekwondo uniform. He actually broke a damn wooden board. Crazy….

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’.
Thanks Bob. And thanks to my dad who taught me about him….
September 19th, 2007 at 12:35 am
#A… Love the hair!!!
#B… Yeah on the running!
#C… Good for you for joining WW.
It was the best thing I’ve done this year (followed closely by purchasing and using my running shoes!!!)
~barb
September 19th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Your Hair looks GREAT!
Cant wait to see it in person someday!!
September 19th, 2007 at 8:09 am
I am so happy for you, E! That is great
The hair looks great too!
September 19th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Your hair looks great! I can sympathize with the change tho, I have cut off 10-12 inches two times for locks of love! Talk about a change!
Regarding the weight watchers and running… good for you.. one caveat… be very careful with the running… it can be hell on your body (spoken from a physical therapist), so if you are really hurting, you may want to do some walking… and/or interval training so that you do not put so much abuse on your joints as you are starting up again! But great job!
September 19th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Good haircut!
Running tip: don’t try to go too fast, try to find a pace that is sustainable. If you try to go too fast you will discourage yourself.
I love that song - when Martin O’Malley took the stage at his inaugural party that was what he sang and it was a magic moment. I will always think of that when I hear that song now.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:13 am
You rock!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:31 am
look at you go!!! all such positive changes! the hair - oh my gosh it is stunning! what did you put in it to tame all those curls??? you and lolly are inspiring me to chop mine as well…you can totally do a 5k - what a great goal!!!
September 19th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Congratulations on your pursuit of things new, different and healthy. Good luck on all ventures!
September 19th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Way cute hair - I LURVE it! Congrats on the running and the WW - both things I know I should be doing, but as always, I procrastinate. We’re really big on change here at Chez Knitnik right now, so I’m right there with you. Just remember - change is good (or so the old Arby’s commercials said).
Gotta love the Cowboy pic - he is so way too cute. I remember he kept us in stitches on the cruise with his baseball talk, and his “good night wadies.”
September 19th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Cute hair! Yeah, cool changes. And Yeah, Bob! G and I are going to see him in Columbia next week. So excited.
September 19th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
OMG!!!!!!! I’m calling you now to squeal about your hair!
September 19th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
You go girl!!! Yahoo! Love the hair!! So shiny, so straight! I am one of those people who LOVE to run - I try to do it 5 days a week - I wish you were closer, we could RUN together… 35—– YIKES. I’m right there with ya, you know.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
CUTE hair!, and as always, way-cute kiddo :o)
September 19th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Holy moly, that is one HOT hair cut and is that a new color too? I’ll cheer you on as you run. I turned 40 this summer and it was an eye opener. The cowboy is adorable in his tae kwon do uniform! He sure is growing fast.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
That is a VERY nice haircut! Love it. As for the running, I don’t love it much. I do find I like weight lifting. The muscle ache the next day makes me feel liek I’ve accomplished something. Not sure what. But hey. Whatever turns your crank. If you want to run 5k, then go do it! Like I’ve said many a time, “aim high. Even if you miss, you won’t shoot your foot off!” And once you’ve run 5k, you can come up with a colourway to commemorate it, we will all buy it and knit socks. It would HAVE to be socks for a 5k run commemorative project, right? (I suggest black and blue for the colour your toenails will turn, but that’s just me)
September 20th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
You look fantastic! Your hair cut looks smashing!
Good for you taking up running and joining WW. That is one cute tae kwon do cowboy you got there!
September 20th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Erin,
I was on the Sock Knitting cruise you were on. Your hair makes such a difference. You look “wonderful”. And, congrats on the WW thing. And the running. Perhaps a name change will be in order “Cute Little Mama E”.
September 21st, 2007 at 10:22 am
It was SO great to see you last night. Being around you makes me want to smile. You have a gift of brightening up rooms.
You are looking fabulous and WW is the way to go! I LOVE WW. It really helps me stay on track.
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:24 am
Your hair looks great!
On running, I try to run about 3 mornings a week. I do it before I’m fully awake. But what REALLY helps is listening to podcasts while I run! Cast On and Stash & Burn are great for a run - keeps my mind off the pain!
On WW - I lost the baby fat with WW a few years ago. When I went to FT work I gained, so I’m back to WW. It’s a sensible program, which is what I like. The e-tools are very convenient (I don’t attend meetings).
September 23rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I just toddled over here from the Yarn Harlot’s blog to discover 2 odd things:
1 - I was at the Kitchener Knitters Fair, and at your booth and even said talked to you, all with out knowing who you were! Next year I’ll say hi
Glad you had a good time while you were here.
2 - We have the same birthday! I’v always thought it was cool to share with John Lennon too.
Also - nice hair! Tres chic.
September 24th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
LOVE the hair. I too am a dues-paying member of WW. Accountability (aka “weigh-in”) is a tough task-master, but I have found that few things keep me more focussed.