Off the Treadmill

Since my "breather" last Friday I seem to have stepped off of the treadmill that my life has become. Actually it started the night before on the Thursday. Instead of staying at work until 9:00 pm (I do all marking and prep at school, none at home) I left at 5:00. Instead of driving directly home I went to an Indian sweet and snack shop that a co-worker had recommended. My co-worker had recommended the samosas. They were excellent. Especially since they were being cooked fresh to order. But while I was there I couldn't resist buying some salty spicy snacks (Surati Delight, but I think of it as Gujarati trail mix) and some sweets made with condensed milk -- an instant sugar rush. I couldn't just have one. I had to buy the mango, cashew, pistachio and coconut flavours -- so that I could share ;)

Fortunately I ate my share of the samosas in the car on the way home. When I got home my daughter informed me that we couldn't eat because we had to go and have a family night at her university gym. Daughter, DH and I, all went to the gym and worked out for two hours!! I can still feel it!! (The abs still hurt). Anyway that took away any guilt that I may have felt about scarfing down three samosas.

The next day, Friday, after my workshop I went to my hairdresser for a much needed hair cut. She did a total transformation. My curly head is now straight. Black hair with copper tips is now brown with copper highlights. I've gone from Grace Jones to Halle Berry. My hair has not been straight since the 80s. She reassured me that I can always wet and scrunch it curly again. This may well happen after the first shampoo. Only now I've discovered that I can fit more hats on my head with straight hair than with curly. My love of accessories may win out.

On Saturday night I went out with my daughter and my sister to an actual movie theatre. We saw Elizabeth The Golden Age. I am so glad that I caught that on the big screen, my eyes devoured every detail of the costumes. They skimped on most of the costumes but Cate Blanchett had costumes that were lovingly detailed. I have to make something based on one of them. I loved the movie even though some of the dialogue was odd: "My Bitches wear my collar!". For a moment I wondered just which hood Elizabeth was from.

Last night I came home early again (7:00), and finished off my Indian sweets with a cup of Earl Grey tea, and a nice lavender scented salt bath. I think this is not just about getting off the treadmill but more about defending myself against SAD -- that depression I feel when the daylight hours are short. I hope it works because there is at least another two months before the days will be noticeably longer.