I cannot live without books - Thomas Jefferson

I've always been an avid reader. If left to my own devices, I'd read until three or four in the morning. Lately, like the last seven years, I haven't been doing much reading. Unless you count "Horton Hears a Who" or any of the Miss Spider books. It's been bothering me a bit.

In college, I settled on a major in History. When asked, "What are you going to do with it?" The prevailing thought would be I would either go into teaching or law school. I picked neither. My mom is a teacher, and I see how much work she does that she isn't compensated for. Also, the idea of dealing with kids all day (I know, laugh now!) As for law school? My brother in law went. One lawyer per family is enough. I really didn't know. I only chose it because it was easy for me.

About three visits ago, my mom brought several boxes of my 'stuff' that I had deemed necessary to save. I promply dumped it in the craft/crap room. The time is drawing to an end when it will be full of crap. I spent two hours sorting down there. I did manage to find several important things - snapshots from my wedding, baby pictures of the kiddos, and my martini glasses. I also came across a box of books.

A short list:
G.M.A. Grube's translation of Plato's Republic
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Shakespears's Hamlet
The Triumph of Evolution, The Heredity-Enviroment Controversy, 1900 - 1941
The Evolution of Western Society, Volume 2 From the Reniassance to Napoleon
The Evolution of Western Society, Volume 3 1815 to the Present.

Maybe it's time for me to dust them off. Work my brain a little. Of my trifecta (ability, time and money) I think I can manage - I only need to make the time. The books are bought and paid for, and with a little practice, I'm sure the ability's not far away. Oh Rosencrantz and Gildenstern, how I've missed you.

If anyone should come across a copy of The Evolution of Western Society: Volume 1 from the Ancient World Through the Late Middle Ages, please let me know.

Trifecta

I couldn’t sleep Thanksgiving night. Had about a forty-five minute nap in the afternoon, so my schedule was out of whack. Started thinking about all I was thankful for. The list is pretty long. My thoughts shifted to my friend who lost her husband, and how time really is fleeting. How it’s not if we’re going to die, it’s when. Really, how much time do we know we have? I started thinking about my “Life List” – you know the big “To Do” before it’s over.

It’s not really important what’s on my list, but I do have one.

I started thinking about what holds me back from accomplishing things I want. The biggest, for me, is fear of failure. But also, there’s a trifecta. Three things that either help or hinder any project: ability, time, and money.

Right now, I have as much ability as I’m going to. Time and money are another thing – right now. Sure, if I really wanted it, I could make time, but truth be told, there are only twenty four hours in a day and most of those hours are taken up caring for the young ones. Money, well, we’re feeding, clothing, and housing a family of five on an income of one. Not that we’re wanting, just trying to plan ahead and make sound decisions.

At some point, I’ll gain more time. The kids will get older and more self-sufficient. Eventually, they’ll leave the house. Money – at some point, I’ll go back to work. Things may get tighter as the kids get older – with activities, and eventually college, but at some point, hopefully, things will loosen up. I look at my parents, my dad especially. Retired, he’s got the time and money, and, because he’s taken care of himself, he’s got ability too. Some, though, as they get older, end up with a lot of time, but no ability. Others, no money. It’s a balance to strike.

So it’s now 2 am and I still can’t sleep. I start thinking about the ability based things I want to do. One of them… A marathon. Besides the ability, the second most needed thing is time. Money, I shouldn’t need another pair of shoes for about 100 miles and the entrance fee is minimal. I start planning out how to carve workouts. The obvious, is to do as much as I can in the mornings when I go to the gym. As I increase my effort, my mile time will decrease, allowing me to get more in the same amount of time.

I’ve thought plenty of times about Marathon to Marathon in Iowa. It’s not too far distance-wise, and I have family in the area. Now, for the training. Right now, today, it’s twenty nine weeks out. So I’m thinking of doing a 5k or 10k training program to work up to the eighteen week Hal Higdon’s Novice Program. I’d have to start that February 11th.

Now is as good of time as any.