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I've finally got some days off to relax at home!  It's been a while since I've had nothing going on...and that's not even really true for today, but it feels more low-key because I at least have half a day before my plans kick in.  I had to wake up early for my post-BLS phone call with the trainer, but that only took two minutes.  She had very nice things to say to me and now I can move on with my progress toward leading meetings.  Woo!  

I have a session with my trainer at 3 today -- it'll be my first time seeing him in over a month, so I'm a little terrified that I'm gonna get my ass kicked, but I haven't let my fitness slide even though I've been out of town, so I think I'm ready.  It'll definitely be a challenge, but I'll be okay.  After that I'm heading over to Shanon's to play with my nephew and catch up with her, and then that's all for today.  Oh, somewhere in there I'm gonna shop for a new laptop, too.  Other goals for today include tidying up my bedroom (I have a huge pile of clean laundry to put away -- at least it's clean!) and practicing more clarinet.

I've been really good about practicing daily, and going over scales and whatnot in addition to trying to play new pieces.  I have a problem with sight reading, though.  I'm actually decent at reading music, and I'm complete shit at playing by ear, but when I know what a song is supposed to sound like, I get lazy with my counting and just play it 'cause I know it.  So I'm really out of practice with the whole sight reading biz, and when faced with music I don't know, it turns out I kind of suck a lot.  I'm trying to work on that some, but of course it's more fun and thus quite tempting to just play all the stuff I already know and love, but that doesn't make me any better.  The lesson books I ordered on Amazon should show up in the next day or so, and that will hopefully guide my practice a little better.

Yesterday I drove to Mount St Helens with my friend Dylan to go hiking.  We picked a very challenging 5-mile trail called Lava Canyon.  It wasn't anywhere near the challenge of Table Mountain, but it was definitely one of the most difficult hiking trails I've ever done.  It had a rickety bridge over a gorge and everything!  It was really awesome, and I'll post some pictures eventually.  Man, I love hiking...

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I completed week 2 of the hundred pushups challenge today.  My wrist is holding up well enough.  Some pain, but more the kind of pain that comes from not using it in two years than the kind of pain that means "stop don't do this bad idea bad idea!"  So I'll press forward.

My new computer is nice.  I am pleased.  I got a not-very-bottom-of-the-line Acer Aspire.  It's light and pretty and so far has done all I've asked of it.  

I survived training with Ertan this afternoon after more than a month off.  He still worked me as though I hadn't missed any time, and I was pleased that I was able to keep up, and even bumped up a few of the weights I've been doing.  Huzzah.

I went to Shanon's from there -- it's been too long!  Jack was only a little hesitant at first, but he chilled out pretty quickly.  It just took him a moment to remember me, I guess.  But it was all good from there.  He wouldn't take his eyes off me, and he kept giving me flirty grins.  Shanon said his separation anxiety has been really horrible lately, and she expected him to scream most of the time she was gone until Brian got home from work to relieve me.  I hunkered down for it, and his chin quivered a little when she left, but he never did cry.  He started acting like he was gearing up for a tantrum, and I just started singing to him.  ("Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby" from O, Brother, Where Art Thou?)  He loved it.  He slumped his head down on my chest and went to sleep.  If I stopped singing, he'd wake up, and when I tried to put him down, he fussed, so I just sang that same song over and over for 20 minutes while I held him until Brian got home.  I was proud of myself that I got him to sleep, but most of all it felt really great that he was comfortable enough with me to be okay without his mom.  I love that little guy so much!  He's a handful, but he's a darling.  

I practiced some more on my clarinet when I got home, and now that it's almost dark I'm winding down for the night.  I feel great about today.