If You're Ever Down in Texas, Look Me Up

Good morning, blog subscribers. I know I promised you more interesting posts now that The Baltimore Chronicles is invitation-only, but I've hardly had time to post at all for the last several days. Mea culpa!

I am in an El Paso hotel room, fresh from the shower, and sipping the first coffee of the day. It is just after 6--but for you darlings back East, it is about 10 past 8. Time Travel. You are in the future--so tell me. What happens?!

The sun hasn't really come up yet, so I am typing to the backdrop of a twilight sky and Miles Davis' version of 'Round Midnight (which the great Thelonious Monk wrote). I woke up at 5 (7) so I could work out on the ancient elliptical contraption in the fitness center. At least it's something. I was feeling over it after about 22 minutes, a paltry showing (though I did manage to work up a good sweat).

The first leg of the journey (Baltimore to Albequerque) was four hours long so Southwest was generous with the snacks (dried fruit and nuts, cracker sticks & processed cheese, 100-calorie pack Chips Ahoy!, and honey roasted peanuts)--most of which I ate. I read the lion's share of a 200-page book and even managed a jerky nap (you know when you keep jerking awake because you don't have a suitable place to rest your head? I should really invest in an airplane pillow...)

I had been doing quite well, food-wise this week. Traveling throws things off, though. Yesterday morning I had a single packet of instant oatmeal before heading to BWI a couple of hours later. Obviously, my hunger was exaggerated by the time I made it through the security checkpoints. Lunch was the airport subway where I got a foot-long. I also indulged the Starbucks' seasonal offerings (I do love the pumpkin spice and gingerbread lattes--nonfat, of course).

My coworker and traveling companion and I got in at about 7 or so last night, took an hour to decompress, then hit the cute little Italian place next door to our digs. I ordered calamari and a salad for dinner, but the presentation of the calamari threw me off. It was like fishsticks or something. I asked my server about it and she assured me that it was indeed calamari. I was expecting rings and feet--you know what I mean. I ate it, though. A Guinness rounded things out nicely. B and I were spent at that point (9 here, 11 at home) so we adjourned back to our respective room and turned in. We're meeting up in about 45 minutes for breakfast and then on to register for the conference we're attending.

The sun's up now, y'all. I gotta get a move on.

The Sunshine State . . .

is hot, in case you were wondering. The last time I was here I was eight, which means it was 1981. My uncle and his then girlfriend took me, her daughter, and another kid (whose name and affiliation I forget) to Walt Disney World. It's got me thinking. I could have no more conjectured that someday I would be back, as a woman in her early 30s, on a business trip than I could have conjectured that someday, as an 8-year-old, I would be at the Magic Kingdom. There's something so mysterious about how and why we end up in certain places at certain times under certain circumstances.

I should be back in the city that I love, where I chronicle my life--my heartbreaks and triumphs--tomorrow night. Business as usual on Friday morning.

For a number of reasons, the workout just couldn't happen this morning, but tomorrow is looking good. Two ellipticals in the exercise room here!

Even more, I've been eating very reasonably since I got here--and less!

irrationality, thy name is Kate!

i won't get into it. i'll just say that my mind can take me on some real benders. am headed to points south for business from tomorrow afternoon through thursday night. will likely blog while away, but wanted to touch base before my flight. have a project with a slightly tight deadline. good thing i'll be back in the office on friday morning to square it away.

the good news is that the hotel has an exercise facility so though i'll only spin once this week (trip departure date got moved to tomorrow so that eliminates wednesday morning class--which is probably a blessing. i don't need to injure myself in a fit of zeal.) i don't have to miss a single workout (save for the weekend, which i've already planned on account of S's birthday).

i'm hanging in there, making good choices, and seeing some results. good deal. irrational thinking aside.