Well, I do not have a race to rev up for, or to report about, so thank you for being here anyway!!

Miraculously, I haven’t felt as anxious as I usually do during the month of December. True, idle time is not my favorite, but I set it up this year so that I could relax in December, and thankfully, I am letting myself do that.

Sort of.

I have planned out and registered for *all* of my races for 2023, (except the ones that aren’t open for registration yet), I mean, I am able to dim down, but not completely turn off my Virgo-like tendencies, I am not a machine! :) I’ll announce all that goodness early next year.

Moreover, I believe I was appropriately productive during my first week of my off-season. I traveled to Orange County to have my bike, “Big Red” re-fitted, which took lots of time, but I am hopeful the laborious adjustments will aid in taking the stress off my left hamstring while pedaling and running from now on out.

**Dave Jordaan, my bike fitter, sawing my seat post...**

Unfortunately, I haven’t had any time for a proper test ride because it’s been cold and stormy in LA the last few days.

**Cold, wet, and stormy... Is this, Winter??**

We also had a new tank-less water heater installed because our old one broke, and although I don’t mind cold showers, I do not live alone, and subsequently our house is now slightly greener.

I was going to head out on a ride today, (Tuesday), we’ve had nothing but crisp air and blue skies since sunrise, but I went for an exploratory weighted hike to a park about ten minutes from our house instead. It’s a “Choice” workout week, and that is what I chose to do.

I’ll probably ride tomorrow, though.

After I celebrate a birthday swim.

**My friend Mary Knott's birthday is tomorrow, 12/14, she would've turned forty-six.**

The slower week has helped me enjoy the present, look forward to the future, but not dwell on the past; a massive sign of growth for me. I still remember everything, (my memory is oddly sharp), but I’ve let go of many lingering disappointments, or rather I’ve shifted my attention away from them because there’s too much other living I want to do, both through the rest of December, and the rest of my life.

Oh wait, there is still one more goal I am chasing before we close out 2022… Reading 100 books. I am on pace to hit it triple digits, so we’ll see…

The song and video choice this week is one of the most stunning live vocal performances I have ever witnessed. Enjoy.