Day 3 and 4

 Life got a little distracting yesterday so I'm doing double entry today. I was struggling to concentrate yesterday so I did an extra walk on my own and then another long walk with my favorite walking buddy. However, I didn't do my exercises so first thing this morning, I did them. I've had to make adjustments to the routine because two of the exercises require a sturdy post of sorts to loop the resistance band around and for some reason, I don't have access to a sturdy post inside my home. So I changed up those exercises to versions I can do with my own body weight.  They are bicep curls and tricep pushdowns. I only did one set of each and I can feel it. Yikes! How out of shape am I? (Don't answer that)

I won't be able to walk with my favorite walking buddy today because I'm teaching this afternoon, but I will get in a walk on my own. My class isn't too far from home so I like to walk home after, as long as the weather is nice enough. 

The Senior Games are coming up next month and I've been trying to decide if I should volunteer to help out. On one hand, I think it would be super encouraging to see what others my age and older are able to do athletically speaking. On the other hand, it could send me down the path of regrets, disappointment and self doubt. I always loved the excitement of competition and seeing how far I could push myself, both mentally and physically. I liked coming up with strategies based on who I was competing against and I especially loved it when all my hard work and training paid off and I ran an awesome race. Ok, now I'm feeling nostalgic...in a good way. :) Hmmm? Maybe I should go, it could be fun to be in that environment again.

Day 2

 Well, I hate to admit it but I almost quit my training already. I know, I know, but sadly that wouldn't be a record for me. I was looking at where I am right now and comparing it to where I want to be in a little over a year and I just became incredibly discouraged. There is so much work to do and self doubt was shoving its way to the front of my thoughts. You may be asking, why do you want to subject yourself to this? Well, I'm tired of sitting around wondering where the time has gone and regretting some of the decisions I have made. It's fun to reminisce about the good old days, but sometimes I feel I get too stuck in the past and wishing I would have done things differently instead of doing something about it right now. So that's what I'm trying to do. I want to help future me rediscover the things that brought younger me joy.

Alrighty then, the workout for today was surprisingly fine. I walked with my favorite walking buddy and then I tried out the 15 minute workout I found that helps slowly build strength. Joining a gym is not an option at this point in time so I've been looking online for workouts I can do at home with minimal equipment. I found the 15 minute workout and bought some resistance bands and that was that. I took it a little easy today because the exercises are new to me and it's been a while since I've done any kind of weight or resistance training. I'm hoping I won't be sore tomorrow. Wait, is that good or bad if I am? Hmm? Not sure. I guess we'll see. 

Day 1

Today is the first day of my journey to the Senior Games 2027. Due to some injuries and bad choices, I haven't competed in sports since High School and I really miss that, especially running. So, I'm giving myself a kick in the butt, so to speak, by setting a goal and making it public. Even if no one actually reads this, there is at least the illusion of that possibility. In High School I loved Track and Field, so that is the sport I'm focusing on for the next year. And in particular, the 1500m run. I've got a lot of work to do and will need to move slowly at first to build a solid foundation. That means being much more conscientious about my food choices and eating habits, ugh! I'll also need to increase my aerobic activity, strength and flexibility. Phew! That's a lot to think about but I'm going to do this. I love running and I'm tired of waiting until tomorrow to start. So today is the day! 

My Short Short for the Day

The coldness chilled her bones, but she’d become numb to its effects.  She went through the motions but felt nothing anymore.  Her gnarled fingers rubbed against each other above the flames stretching out from the trash can.  Her tattered hat was pulled down around her ears but provided no warmth as the cloth was barely holding together.  Only the dirt and filth kept it from falling apart.  She smelled worse than the rotted trash burning in the can.  The liquid from the drainpipes was more green sludge than water so there was no way to get clean, even if that mattered to the broken and battered souls existing in that dead end space.

Hopelessness oozed from the creatures huddled around the trash cans, desperate to feel something.  The frigid winter was dragging on.  Cloudy days drifted into dark, icy nights.  The sun had disappeared long ago as did the warmth and hope it brought.  Agnes couldn’t remember the last time she felt anything.  For years she had complained about not having enough; not enough money to buy the things she wanted, not enough time to herself to do what she wanted, not enough appreciation from her husband and children for all the sacrifices she made for them.  So many years spent complaining, never satisfied with what she had, never happy with her life. Then as she got older, her children grew up and moved out on their own, her husband died, and she was left alone.  She had plenty of money now to buy all the things she wanted.  She had plenty of time to herself to do whatever she wanted.  Instead, she sat at home feeling sorry for herself.  Everyone had left her.  No one there to talk to, or eat a meal with, or to hug.

How did she end up here?  This desolate place with lost souls, drained of all hope.  How did this happen?  

My Short Short for the Day

The shadowy figure crept along the wretched alleyway littered with decaying trash, rats scrabbling through the piles of stench for a bite to eat and tainted mist seeping up from the sewers. 

Zerrick shouldered open the heavy back door to the bakery, flooding the alleyway with bright, artificial light.  The rats scattered, hissing as they are forced to abandon their dinner.  Grumbling, Zerrick tosses the bags of trash into the stained and battered dumpster. “More food for you scavengers.”  He mutters to the beady eyes staring at him from the dark edges of the shadows. 

A coldness brushes past Zerrick who shivers and looks around.  Creepy alleyway.  Why does it have to be so creepy at night?  During the day, it’s dirty and dank smelling but never causes his neck to prickle at every sound.  He slams the rusted lid down and turns back towards the door.  For a moment he hesitates, unsure if he saw something.  He shakes his head, “Don’t be so stupid, nothing’s there.” 

The door slowly closed behind Zerrick taking the light with it and returning the alleyway back to is smothering darkness.  The rats return to their dinner, savagely tearing the bags open and burrowing into the decaying rot inside.  The tainted mist hovers mere inches above the ground, shrouding everything in a foggy, green hue.

My Short Short for the Day

The fight was on.  Who will win the prized peanuts?  The blue jay or the squirrel.  Who will be sneakier?  Who will be stealthier?  Who will be smarter?  Who will ultimately win? 

“Really Alan, do you have to make it that dramatic?”  Gloria rolled her eyes as she walked past her husband.

“Yes, it’s the battle of the ages.  People will be talking for years about this epic battle of land versus air.  Which creature is stronger?  Which will survive?”

Gloria walked through the living room and into the kitchen shaking her head all the time.  Now, what should I make for dinner?  Hmm?  She opened the fridge and foraged around a bit then closed it.  She opened the freezer and picked up a container.  She squinted trying to see into it, but the frost was too thick.  She shook it, but of course it was frozen so that was no use.  She sniffed it but it just smelled like ice.  With a frown, she put it back on the shelf and closed the door.  Hmm?

“Oh, look dad!  The squirrel is telling off the blue jay.  You see him!  He’s yelling at him!”  Carl cheered the squirrel on.  Alan had his hand on his son’s shoulder and was chanting, “Fight, fight, fight!”

After a few moments of chanting and squirrel “yelling”, things quieted down.  The squirrel triumphantly ate the peanut on the wall of the patio while the blue jay flew away in shame.

Gloria walked back into the living room to see her two favorite people cheering and high fiving about the squirrel victory.  “So, this is what our life has become.”  She sighed before joining in on the revelry.

My Short Short for the Day

Stella turned off the light and climbed into bed.  She leaned over to set her glasses on the bedside table when a movement near the foot of the bed caught her eyes.  She sat up and put her glasses on.  She leaned forward squinting in the dark to see what might have made that movement.  She lived alone, no family, no pets. 

After a moment she shook her head.  “You’re just imagining things.” 

Stella carefully set her glasses on the bedside table and lay down.  The events of the day ran through her mind and soon she drifted off to sleep.  Darkness thickened outside, clouds obscured the moon and light was absent from the room. 

“Creak.”  The sound echoed in the room.  Stella twitched.  She drowsily opened her eyes.  “Creak!”  Stella shot up in bed wide awake now.  “Who’s there?”

Silence.

Stella grabbed her glasses and put them on as she flicked on the light.  Her eyes darted around the room.  Seeing nothing, she mustered up the courage to move her blankets aside and slip out of bed.  She grabbed her letter opener from the desk as she left the room.  She peered into the hallway, listening carefully.  When no sounds came, she tiptoed down the hall, gripping the weapon in one hand and running the other hand lightly along the wall. 

She eased her way into the living room and edged along the wall to the table lamp.  With her back to the wall, she took a steadying breath and clicked on the lamp.  She locked eyes with a pair of beady, dark eyes.  The creature froze as did Stella.  They stared at each other for a long moment before the creature grabbed an apple from the bowl on the coffee table and scurried to the laundry chute, nudged it open and hurled itself in.  Stella watched the creature’s tail disappear as the tiny, laundry door flapped shut. 

Stella blinked several times waiting to see if the door would reopen.  After a few minutes, Stella took a steadying breath and muttered, “A raccoon…”