We’re in the home stretch of MAYhem here. This week was a single-parenting blur. I knocked out some big things and, kind of like an end-of-school-year Whack-a-Mole, other issues arose in their place. Before I get into that, here’s how my workouts (what are those?) shook out.
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 3 miles, middle school awards night
Wednesday: Lower body strength, dentist appt., flute lesson, school band end-of year party
Thursday: Trail run 4 miles, lunch with Wendy, flute lesson, band concert
Friday: Upper body strength/core
Saturday: Run 4 miles
Sunday: CrossFit
As you can see, I’m keeping to the plan and not running much. Strength training is the focus and my posterior chain will testify I am honoring that commitment. The trails are irresistible though.
Loving
We had exactly 2.5 brilliantly gorgeous days here this week. Days so lovely, silly me started thinking SURELY winter has finally released its death grip and let warmer weather spring forward. It is late May after all. Let’s just say it was nice while it lasted.
Thing 1 finished her AP exams and will graduate this coming weekend with highest honors. I am so very proud of her.
Thing 2 is going to be performing FOR a Master Class. Basically she’ll receive a lesson from a prominent Master Flutist while other students observe and take notes. Cool, right? She’ll perform all movements of Hindemith’s Sonata for Flute and Piano. This is my girl who typically quits everything. I love her passion for music and I’m so proud of how hard she’s worked. Fingers crossed this is something she sticks with.
I gardened my behind off, mostly to get the deck and yard ready for next weekend’s graduation party. It feels good to get so much done. Now if only the friggin’ rain would stop!
Not Loving
All. The. Rain. Seriously May has been mostly a cold, wet disaster and there’s no end in sight. Not sure what I was thinking to plan a tented graduation party in the yard. If the forecast holds, I am in deep do do.
People who fail to RSVP. It’s one of the mysteries of the world. The deadline for RSVPs was Saturday. I get it, everybody’s crazy busy. But when you don’t hear from 22 of your guests, it’s kind of tough to go forward with stuff that’s pretty integral to a good party… food…drinks…seating…that sort of thing. I love this article about the 4 types of people who don’t RSVP. I should’ve known better because I’m no stranger to RSVP deviates. When Thing 2 turned 6 I threw her a party at a trampoline place and a whopping two guests showed up. Thank heavens she was too young to care. Part of me wonders if I should take it personally, but I refuse to go down that rabbit hole.
I’m not going to end this post on a downer note. There’s one more thing I love. This book showed up and just as I was totally stressing out over the party. Typically I’m the calm, cool, collected sort but lately, frazzled me has been showing up too often. Dr. Loretta Breuning has a deep understanding of the science behind anxiety. Apparently it’s about neural pathways. Just like other habits and character traits, the more often you are anxious, the more you are reinforcing those particular neural pathways in the brain. She talks about cortisol and adrenaline, threats and rewards. I haven’t gotten through the entire book yet but I did find it interesting that species with the largest brains (humans and monkeys) experience the most social drama and disappointment. How do we calm our anxiety? By redirecting our focus to positive things. Positive things that absorb us and make us feel special, because those feelings produce serotonin, our feel-good chemical. Interesting. I’ll keep reading and be back with a more complete review.
How was your week? Is MAYhem in full force? Did you race? Have you experienced RSVP anxiety?
I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!
Congratulations to your daughters on their awesome achievements!
Totally agree with you about the people that don’t RSVP. It drives me absolutely bonkers and I find it to be so disrespectful too.
Well done to your daughters and that book does look good.
Congratulations to your daughter who is graduating! You must be so proud of her. Sounds like your other daughter has a fantastic opportunity too.
Perfect timing for the arrival of the book. Funny how the universe sometimes sends us just what we need out of the blue. Sorry about the jerks who didn’t RSVP. Ugh! I hate that.
I am lucky. I’ve never had to plan a big party. My sympathies.
The rain . . . ugh! don’t even get me started. I hope that the weather by graduation surprises you — in a good way.
Your daughters are amazing! Huge congrats to them for all their successes 😉 I am not too bummed about having all the high school grad parties done…and, so far, we’ve had 2 college grad parties (but they’re not as grandiose). We’ll have three more of those, (1) when the son finishes his BA in Finance (on track for December of this year), (2) when the younger daughter officially gets her AA diploma (this summer) and (3) then when she finishes her other endeavors (in two years). I hope the weather gods are kind to you next weekend. Thanks for linking with us, Marcia!
Congratulations to both of your daughters! Yay on the gardening and boo on the lack of RSVPs. I will say that I’ve failed to RSVP to a friend who uses FB events for her own parties. When I saw it in my feed I thought FB was just telling me she was going to an event (It was called “Celebrate Spring” or something similarly generic). I felt bad, but …. On the hand, I have invited people through FB, but I’ve used messenger (knowing they are on it). Anyway, I hope the weather cooperates. Regardless, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy!
Congrats to your daughters! Let’s hope the weather cooperates for this weekend.
I am bad with RSVPs. I know I should do better.
Boo to RSVP anxiety – it’s a real pet peeve of mine that people can’t take two seconds to reply! Hope the weather cooperates for you!
Congrats to both of your girls! Good stuff!!
YAY, music! YAY, graduation! I hope it doesn’t rain for your party! Lots of rain coming up here for us next week, which means you are the next target after us so I hope it tires out before reaching you!
I’m a horrible RSVPer. I think it’s a commitment issue??? I also don’t like FB invites and that’s how the kids do it these days. I just don’t get on FB much to remember. What happened to paper invites? Probably out the window with the rest of ink and pen things.
xo
I think one of the reasons why I don’t throw more parties is because of RSVP anxiety. It throws EVERYTHING off. MAYhem is here and it won’t stop raining. Although it did this afternoon and it was amazing. Please, please stay longer nice weather!!
Wow – what a hectic week. Congratulations to both of your kiddos for their achievements! I feel like I am the opposite RSVPer. I immediately say yes, but then as the day approaches or arrives I either get social anxiety or feel overextended and end up not making it. I’m not sure which is worse.
We had the same problem w RSVP last year and it also poured for our outdoor BBQ pool party last year. All will end up well either way. Huge congrats to your daughter and you all. It’s a family accomplishment! Enjoy the week it goes by so fast
I am so glad you were able to squeeze me into your mayhem-filled week! Looks like I need to read that book. Although I am feeling much better now.
I don’t understand people who don’t RSVP. We had that issue with the boys’ birthday parties when they were little and it was so hard to plan. Luckily, they were young enough not to care. Have a wonderful weekend of celebrating!
Congratulations on your daughters’ achievements and on your eldest’s graduation! As you know, it takes some good parenting to have such good kids. Kudos to you. My entire immediate family doesn’t RSVP to anything. When my cousins have parties they are always asking ME if my siblings are coming. Mind you my siblings are in their 50s and 60s. Grown adults, supposedly. Anyway, crazy week for you! I’m not even bothering to do any gardening before we get back from vacation on June 3. The weather has been that bad!
Congrats to your daughters.
Here the last party was my daughter’s wedding and I remember again all the chaos to organize the event.
I have found an inspiration in your post: tomorrow my workout will be a trail among the pine trees near the sea.
I cannot agree with you enough about assholes who don’t RSVP. Seriously. WTF is wrong with them? It’s so incredibly RUDE and it needs to stop. We need some way of publicly shaming them – LOL. That said, I hope the party is amazing, despite the unknown guest count and possible horrible weather. At least your flowers look amazing.
And I think you know that I suffer from anxiety, especially when I fly and I have read so much about it, each book or article helping me understand a little more. I will definitely get this book!
Thanks and GOOD LUCK!
Congrats to your girls on all of their accomplishments. And yes, I hate the whole RSVP thing too. Can be so stressful when trying to plan an event!
Congrats to both your daughters Marcia! I can imagine that you are busy busy but also really proud of both of them! And luckily I don’t plan anything anymore that need RSVP’s but that would drive me insane. I always RSVP and in fact if I say I’m going, then I’m going, barring any illness (which *knock wood* rarely happens) or something worse. That book sounds REALLY interesting actually – I think I would really be into that one!
No racing for me, but I have started to “run” – 5 runs under my belt so far but nothing over 3KM (and a smidge). With my physio’s permission I’ll be run/walking Liverpool 5K this upcoming weekend.
Hope the weather holds out for your party! And that people get off their duffs and start letting you know if they are coming or not!
Oh yes, May is hitting in full force here. So many end of school year things going on, and my daughter will be turning 16 in 10 days. I still haven’t figured out what to get her for her birthday!! ugh. I agree – that gets me so irked when people don’t RSVP.
No Mayhem here, just the usual busy life stuff. Congrats to both your girls! I played flute and guitar for a little while, hopefully your daughter sticks with it, I always wished I had.
Good luck on the weekend weather!