You mean I have a muscle there?

I can't get over the severity of the soreness I'm experiencing today. I could barely get up out of bed to press snooze on my alarm when the increasingly loud beep sounded over and over again. Even getting back in bed- which I do every morning after I hear my alarm- was a difficult task. Instead of the usual fall into the mattress and throw the covers over my head move I do, I kept hunched over and carefully slid into a laying position, mostly curled in a ball. Straightening out my torso felt like what I imagine a cardboard box would feel like when packing tape is being ripped away from it. Ouch. That's when I realized there's a reason P90X has many success stories... and many drop outs, I'm sure. If you haven't heard of P90X, it's an at-home workout video that's probably the most intense of all at-home workouts. It blows Chuck Norris's Total Gym out of the water (and trust me, it takes a powerful force to blow anything that Chuck Norris is associated with out of the water). And it makes Winsor Pilates look about as relaxing as floating in the pool.

Okay, maybe I'm over exaggerating. After all... I've only experienced p90X three times; the last time I went for a ride on a Total Gym was in 6th grade (and we might as well have called it a Jungle Gym); and two summers ago when I decided to test my pilates skills I probably put in 50% of my effort. I did, however exert all my energy into my recent P90X workouts. And I'm feeling the effects of it today, for sure.

Monday night I went over to Shayla and Melanie's house, prepared for a great workout. P90X Ab Ripper. Shayla's been keeping up with these workouts pretty dang good for a couple of weeks now, so she knew what all to expect. I, on the other hand, didn't know what was coming. Sixteen minutes of hard core abs straight through, making for a total of 349 major muscle contractions. Now I'm sure 16 minutes doesn't sounds like any big deal, but trust me, this is no simple crunch or sit-up you're doing. The moves are challenging and even leave you breathless. Twenty-four hours later the soreness hit me. And like I said, the next morning was no easy task.

Tonight we all three got together again to do the chest and back workout, followed by more abs. Holy cow... talk about a challenge. Forty-five minutes of intense strength training exercises all in a row, which left me flat on my face at several points. By the end of the workout, I burned 469 calories according to my awesome Polar watch and heart rate monitor. And that's just from strength training! Not cardio... not running... no; push-ups, pull-ups, and other crazy weight lifting moves. No wonder P90X will get you fit. It pushes you to some serious limits!

After a lot of water and some muscle relaxation in the hot tub, we were already making plans for tomorrow's workout- Plyometrics at 6:30 in the morning! I better get some sleep... it's almost 2AM. (Typical Kate staying up way too late...) Shayla's supposed to give me a wake up call... hopefully I don't pansy out.

For Whatever Wednesdays,
Kate

A Metaphor the Missed

There's something very comforting about you. It's not hard to pin-point because it's simply your entire being. I'm never worried when I'm around you. I never feel threatened, uneasy, or scared. When I see you, I'm relieved... carefree...

For years we've heard endearments like, "Your smile lights up the room." Yet I've never witnessed the illumination of an already lit room by a simple facial expression of happiness until you came along. Beaming rays of sun penetrate through my skin, sinking deep into my bones when your heart paints a genuine smile on your face. And it is your heart that paints that smile- your wonderful, wonderful heart.

I haven't the slightest clue what goes on in that mind of yours. You were never hard to read until I made you into a book of my own. You were a mystery and I turned you into a romance. You were a novel and I made you into a chapter. You were that book I couldn't put down and now cannot open back up.

It's sad when you're not allowed to read your favorite book.

There was something perfect about a hug from you. How no matter the blistering cold, you were always toasty warm. How you always held on so long... yet never long enough. How my head could rest perfectly on your chest... and my ear would easily hear that wonderful heart of yours beating so strong.

For years we've heard the lines and lyrics about beating hearts. But never had I heard a heart beat so loud... never had I felt such a powerful pulse.

Since you've been gone I've tried to find my way. And I've taken several roads, each one unique from the other. Some are rocky and lead to peace. Some are smooth and lead to destruction. Others are backed up with stop-and-go traffic and I wonder if I will ever make my way through. Some roads are lonely... for miles and miles I'll go with out passing by a single car, or having one pass by me. And I wonder... Will I ever find that comfort again?

I'm living my life in both chaos and tranquility. Shedding both vices and virtues. And in doing so, I am swayed by the idea of you and I. I am influenced by a heart that I once knew, and controlled by the one that keeps me alive.

I've made mistakes... done stupid things. But never was I told to be perfect. Not that I seek justification for follies, but I appreciate the sacrifice of unconditional love. Love is all I have and all I can give. Hate isn't a word in my vocabulary, and I pray it's never a component of my spirit. How could it be? It's just too harsh.

But some think love is too brash.

A mystery you were and a mystery you may remain. You are a chapter of my past, yet you are a co-author of my future.

You are a wonderful, wonderful heart.