Maaarch! Maaarch! It’s March! (Sung like the line from Rent when Mark introduces himself to the Life Support meeting)
The year still felt quite young when I was able to label the posts February. March is the equivalent to turning 30. You’re supposed to have your shit together. The New Years resolutions are supposed to be habits by now and the yearly goals should be works in progress at this point, not just things you’re going to start working on soon.
But March snuck up on me, much like 30 did (And then 31. And then 32…).
The good news is the week started and ended with mini-adventures, which means March started on a good note (literally — as you’ll see in a moment). It also started on a Sunday. Oh, how I love when a month begins on a Sunday.
Sunday
Here’s the thing: Amanda is one of my best friends. I genuinely enjoy spending time with her and I like to make her happy. So sometimes when she asks me to do things, I agree without really knowing what I’m saying yes to. It’s just that she’s always got something going on. A birthday party for a niece or a Vietnamese New Years celebration with family or a volleyball league game with coworkers… And while she’s one of the most understanding individuals I’ve ever met and does not usually get upset when I decline an invite, I also don’t want to be the type of person who’s always saying no. I don’t know why exactly, I just don’t.
Instead, I say yes at least half the time. This time I said yes three months ago and forgot about it until she reminded me a few days before. I’m always down for a concert, though, even if it is a Sunday night before a full week. And even if it is an hour and forty minutes away. And, apparently, even if we’re going with people I don’t know.
Amanda, her friend Caitlyn, Caitlyn’s boyfriend, Caitlyn’s boyfriend’s friend, and I all loaded up one of their vehicles and headed to Saratoga to listen Dermot Kennedy. I’d only heard one song of his before but after a couple songs I was blown away by the musicianship. Wow! This is so good! I thought. Five songs later I thought, Wow! These all sound the same! But I still dug it. I did get separated from the group when they failed to follow me cutting through the crowd for a better, less awkward spot (the Upstate Concert Hall is in an old shopping plaza and if you’re not careful you end up staring at a support beam instead of the performers), but I was okay with being on my own.
Monday
These cats. This is not a good look for Willow.
Tuesday
I go to the gym most mornings. And I love my gym. It’s truly a community. But recently there have been some additions to our 5:30 class. It used to be just four or five of us, but now there are fifteen to twenty most days. All nice people. But with so many new people at once, us OG 5:30ers weren’t able to properly acclimate everyone. In an effort to help them and teach them our ways, I wrote these rules and stuck them on the door. The rules have long since been taken off the door, but when I popped in Anthony’s office, I was tickled to see he’d put them up there. In case the picture isn’t clear:
- Calm down. It’s 5:30.
- Actually, it’s 5:34. We don’t start on time. Most of us are still making a left on red or scooting into the parking lot through the “one way” exit at 5:30.
- We start seated… usually in a circle-esque shape in which we swap groggy good mornings and employ stall tactics like telling stories or asking Anthony questions… anything to delay. At 5:34 we’re still not ready.
- Our warm-up is SLOW. If you find yourself finishing the recommended number of rounds, you’re going too fast.
- DON’T DROP WEIGHTS unless you’re over 80%. So loud.
- We jam to chill music. Ain’t nobody feeling Ja Rule this early.
- We’re all in this together. We wouldn’t be Crossfitters if we weren’t a little competitive, but I didn’t come here to race you or show anyone how strong I’m not. We encourage each other and work hard, but often…
- We forget to input our scores because who cares.
Wednesday
Since this picture is through a windowpane and a screen, it’s not the clearest image. It also doesn’t give great perspective on the size of this little guy. He was tiny and adorable.
Thursday
Sam didn’t understand why I was speaking with a British accent all day. Week ten was also Literacy Week at school. Just like I have the last two years, I informed my students there would be a substitute on Character Day, showed up dressed like Hermione, spoke in a British accent, and made them call me Ms. Granger.
There’s always one student who, when I tell them there will be a substitute — an awesome one with a really great accent — claims they’ve had the substitute before. This year was no different.
Friday
The first hint of warmer weather brought out these flowers. I know we’ll get hit with another snow storm before March is over; I just hope these survive it.
Saturday
Week ten ended with my first wine tasting tour. For Judith’s birthday, we hopped in a bus and hit a handful of local wineries. Of the twelve girls, I only knew Judith and Kaitlyn, but it was a good day. Worth the slight headache.