Perhaps I should pick Decisiveness for 2009

For several weeks, I've been pondering what my word for 2009 would be. My 2008 word of Balance seemed to work out for me in the grand scheme of things and I feel worlds more balanced even in this last month than I have in a long time. I'm always one to wait until the last minute to do something so it only makes sense that I wouldn't get the hang of this balance thing until the last few weeks. I'm having a harder time picking a word for 2009, though. I will think I've found one and after a day or so I'll waffle and wonder if another word would be more appropriate. Balance was so easy to pick because it was something I was really missing and wanted to focus on in so many parts of my life. But I'm struggling to pick something that will be a touchstone for the next 365 days.

I've tried on each word for size and just can't decide. Home? Communication? Voice? Us? Joy? Personal? Allow? Nothing seems to fit quite right for an entire year.

I have until tomorrow to see what fits best. Stay tuned to find out which one I choose for 2009.

Attractive alternatives

Me (after finding a towel spread out across an otherwise empty laundry basket): Is this towel clean? Rich: Oh, yeah.

Me: What's up with that?

Rich: I was putting my hockey stuff in the washer and Ms. Kitterson was lounging in Ms. Kitty's blue chair. Ms. Kitty looked out of place so I was trying to create an attractive alternative for her to lounge in the laundry room.

Me: I hope you realize this makes you a crazy cat lady. There's no turning back now, really.

So I guess that means we'll be keeping the blue chair for awhile until we can find another "attractive alternative" for the kitties.

Not so cool runnings

I want to be a runner.  I want to do this.  While I'm in the middle of my run, particularly when it's warm and breezy like tonight, I feel great.  But as my run reaches an end, my knees start to hurt in a way that refuses to be ignored.  And as I'm crossing the front yard to come back inside, I'm calculating how in the hell I'm going to get upstairs unassisted.

I'm not sure what to do. I stretch my hamstrings and calves before each run. I wear knee braces while I run. I'm now icing my knees after each run and switching to tiger balm patches later that evening (and let me tell you that stuff should be illegal it feels so good on my knees). I'm resting a day or two between each run. I've even repeated week three of my Couch to 5K program in an effort to build up more strength before I continue. But my knees have now far surpassed any lung discomfort I was first experiencing.

Every other part of me feels really really good. My mind is clear, my stamina is improving, my stomach and legs and ass are getting a workout without causing me pain. Even the dog is getting used to the routine and doesn't get underfoot anymore. I don't want to stop running. Everything I Google about Couch to 5K and knee pain says things like "I started C25K but quit because of knee pain" and none of them say "I wanted to quit but found if I just did X I felt much better."

I can't be the only person who's had this happen. Rich has had knee pain since high school so this is all "normal" to him. Am I (literally) on the road to trashing my knees or is this just a phase?