Day 84: Mush for Brains Part II

So, I’ve just had another massage and again I feel like a squeezed tube of toothpaste, or one of those little elastic-jointed wooden people push toys: you know, the ones where you press on the bottom of the toy and the person’s legs and arms and head give way. There’s probably a name for that toy but I don’t have a clue what it is. It would be good to know for Bananagrams, especially if it only has two letters.

I’ve been losing things lately, including a beautiful watch and a beautiful necklace that D gave me. It makes me feel so stupid. He suggested that perhaps I’ve just misplaced them, but I know they’re gone for good. The necklace especially: I left it in the pocket of my shorts and the washing machine ate it. I’m pretty sure it’s now floating around in our septic fields; I’m also pretty sure I don’t want it back.

I’ve been trying to do things to keep my brain sharp. Kenken makes me feel smart, even if it does take me a minute or two to figure out on a 7-square board that the only possible combination that equals 6 using subtraction is 7 and 1. Sudoku is great when I can remember where I’ve put the book. And I’ve bought some vitamins and minerals which might help if I could just remember to take them. Putting them by the kitchen sink doesn’t seem to do the trick.

The activity that does seem to keep me mentally sharp is running. I love what it does for my muscles and I love what it does for my weight, but mostly I love what it does for my mental game. Unfortunately, I haven’t run much since April, when I completed a half-marathon. All the training left me with a tender Achilles and I’ve been trying to give the warrior a rest.

I ran yesterday for the first time in a while and I felt okay – out of shape and winded, but okay. Achilles said a brief hello and then let me go on my merry way. I heard that Paula Radcliffe ran and won the NYC Half-Marathon on Sunday, the first race she’s run since she won the NYC Marathon last November. She had bunion surgery this spring. So we’ve both been on the DL list, Paula and I, but she’s back, and so must I be.

I’m not going to run today because it just seems wrong to do that after a massage. Achilles has won this battle. But tomorrow morning Nike and I will just do it, we will. In the meantime, tonight is Bingo night at Migis Lodge. That oughta keep me sharp.