I'm stronger on the inside?

Day Four

I said I was going to play tennis with my friend today. I never played tennis with my friend today. For one, you can't have long talks while playing tennis and I miss my friend so much, I preferred to just see her. Two, I don't own a skort.

This tennis-playing friend was born and raised in Larchmont, New York, where it is a fact that all babies enter the world with a tiller in one hand and a tennis racket in the other. She claims to be "not very good" at tennis, and I am gracious enough to accept her grace and pretend to believe her, but behind her back and in this public forum, I'll say it. Who the hell does she think she's kidding?

Instead, we walked the Back Cove and talked about...everything. I may not have gotten a sweaty workout, but--to borrow a term I heard the other night--my brain was sweating. We talked and talked and talked. This friend is an amazing baker, an enviable mother, and a tremendous friend. So, let's chalk this up to getting stronger on the inside.

Makes me think of I Ought to Be in Pictures, the Walter Matthau movie from the early '80s where a girl finds her biological dad in LA and decides to become an actress. They fight and all that and when they make up toward the end of the movie, seeing each other for the first time in months, Walter Matthau's character says, "You look taller."

And, she replies, "Only on the inside."

Or something like that. Anyway, that line has resonated with me since I saw it on HBO when I was in middle school.  (Incidentally, I am uncomfortable referring back to Walter Matthau as "Matthau" and it seems presumptuous to write "Walter." He was all kinds of excellent. And, you know what? The other line from that movie that resonated with my 14-year-old self was something like, "You found me? It took them 30 years to find Eichmann!" so I wouldn't read too much into what I'm saying here.)

Back on task. My exercise today was a 90-minute walk. Back Cove should be a 60-minute walk or less if you're speeding along, but I love this friend so much, I'm pretty sure I slowed down as we approached the parking lot. I just wanted more time. Of course, this made me late for a hair appointment at O2, which was the whole reason I took the day off and went to Portland at all, but they were kind enough to still fit me in. Sorry to continue streaming along here, but I have to mention, I almost drove my car off the road after getting some highlights at O2 a few weeks ago. My hair caught the light shining in through my sunroof and I got completely distracted by it. It was...so...beautiful.... My hair looked like it was spun from gold, but not the cheezy Jersey Shore gold. More like the gold on those tasteful little earrings that older woman at that opening was wearing, the woman in the perfectly tailored suit who knew exactly what to say to everyone at the cocktail party. That woman. My hair was momentarily her kind of gold.

local greens meet locally purchased yumminess

Annnnd....we're back. For our local food dinner, I picked up more baguette from Standard Bakery--honestly, it's the best bread. And, while I was there, I was jostled by some middle school boys who came in and surreptitiously sneaked away with sample cookies. Their ringleader was very vocal, "Oh! Hmmm... so let's see.... croissants and cookies... I might want... do you have any sandwiches?" All the while, his friends were nudging against me like little puppies trying to get their little snouts into the snack jar. Next stop, Harbor Fish for some tuna for supper. It may not be "local" fish but, sweet jesus, it was fantastic.

I realize this blog is turning into a "local" blog, more than an "I want to be strong" blog. I do tend to digress. Listen, my muscles have been giving me a little lip lately. I'm definitely aware that my body has been doing things. And, I still find myself walking taller (albeit, on the inside). But, I am so easily distracted by a martini at the end of the day. And, I always prefer to spend time with friends over getting into my own thoughts and dreams inside my own solitary sweaty head as I run down a quiet road, no matter how beautiful the view might be.

Baby Steps

Day Two
 
As it turns out, my new plan will be comprised of baby steps. Full disclosure--since "Step One" in my new life of getting stronger is to be honest--I'm drinking Starbucks this morning. It's all we had in the house. We generally keep coffee from Coffee by Design. Their coffee is delicious and well roasted and they have great politics. If you don't believe me, look it up.

"Step Three" (eating local foods) of my plan will be comprised of more baby steps. I'm also drinking that coffee with...gulp...French vanilla-flavored International Delight. We don't have any milk and I can't drink my coffee black. (It's pouring rain outside so I don't want to walk to the store and I can't drive in good conscience since it's only about a third of a mile away. Yes. I know. I'm rationalizing. And, I'm realizing I'm a bit of a princess.) 

I don't have the fortitude of my college roommate who still drinks her coffee black because we never had milk in the apartment 20 years ago. Today, I found this flavored creamer in the house because my husband bought it for a client he takes fishing. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Throw it away and fill the land...fill? Yes. I heard it as I was typing it. I lose.

I also never worked out yesterday. I was curled up in our big cozy chair, sucked back into "The End of the Affair," because I had looked up that quote yesterday and then I had to reread some of the other passages. Graham Greene has such a jaded but poignant view on writing. 

"I can't swim underwater!"

When I first read him, I thought he was tremendously profound. But, I was 18 and living alone in a cottage by a lake and I was baked for most of the time. Along the lines of exercise in those days, I would swim across the lake daily, which was quite a feat because to this day, I refuse to get my face wet. But back then, I didn't care about my form and I had to work off a lot of extra energy. Therefore, I maintained a flat stomach and strong arms. I made no correlation between exercise and physical stamina. None.

After Graham Greene yesterday, my brother called and we spent an hour and a half talking about...I don't even know what. Then, of course, I needed some lunch (goat cheese from Appleton Creamery, arugula from the Bath Farmers Market, a bit of bread from Borealis, which isn't as good as Standard, but I'll take it). 

I couldn't work out after eating lunch (DUH!), so I went back to reading. This time Stephen King's 11/22/63. It's pretty good.

Suddenly, it was 7:00 at night. I can't work out after 5 because it keeps me up.... lame. I know! I know! I did have supper but it was small. A boiled egg from Sparrow Farm tossed on top of more arugula. Oh lordy. I used Annie's dressing. It's from California, but it's "organic"--a word that seems to hold as much weight lately as "artisanal." Someone please tell me it's okay. Because, I love their dressing.