"Back to" is a step forward

Part 1: Back to one vehicle.

We had our little black '03 Saturn Ion, which we loved. We also had a gold '01 Olds Alero that we liked when we purchased it this past summer to have as a second vehicle. It was tricky living 15 minutes from anywhere with only one car. However, two weeks after we bought it, it was in the shop. Then it would be out for a couple of weeks and then right back in. I think of the 8 months we owned it, 3 of those were spent in the shop. What good is a second car if you can't drive it?? That Alero was a money pit. And it was in the shop AGAIN last week, and this time it was probably a blown head gasket. They told us that we should get rid of the car ASAP. The problem with that was that we still owed more than we owned! (What a difference one little letter can make.) So, taking the advice of Mom, we "cut our losses and moved on."

We traded in both of our cars, using the equity in our Ion to pay off what we still owed on the Alero, and purchased a new silver '06 Dodge Grand Caravan with an extended warranty. I just can't attempt to drive cars that don't work. Neither John nor I know anything about fixing cars, so we just need one that is guaranteed to work.

I hear you. "You bought a minivan??" During this whole purchasing process, I kept remembering one of Elizabeth's blog entries (busydaysfundays.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_busydaysfundays_archive.html) about their decision to look for a minivan, and I just had to smile.

So, back to one vehicle, but it is one that will (1) work, (2) allow our family to grow and all ride in the same vehicle and (3) even accommodate other people riding with us. A step forward.

Part 2: Back to running ... okay, jogging.

I can no longer use my two favorite excuses for not jogging because I am neither pregnant nor am I recovering after having given birth. Next on the excuse list is I don't have enough, time away from my kids, and we don't have a double jogging stoller. Next is it's raining or might rain. Next is it's too cold. Next is I'm too tired. Lots of excuses.

But my neighbor, who also goes to church with us, came up to me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I ever did any running. Oh how I wanted to lie and say that I never really was any good at running. But I didn't lie, and said that I used to run in high school and college, and then up and down the basketball court with my girls in CO.

"So, are you going to start again once you feel up to it?"

A challenge. Great. Why can't I resist a challenge? Why am I so stinkin' competitive? I reply, "Oh yeah! I have to get this baby weight off somehow! "

"Well, let me know when you're ready, and we can go together!"

I'm searching for excuses ... "I have to watch my neighbor in the mornings, he comes over at 7:15, so it'd have to be pretty early," hoping she was NOT a morning person.

"Oh, that's perfect! [My husband] has to leave for work at 6:45 in the mornings, so I'd have to be back by then."

I'm stuck. "Oh, okay. Well, maybe we can start in a couple of weeks?"

"Sounds great!"

So, Tuesday morning I decided to try it out by myself before totally committing to this partnership. My first time jogging since last spring. I took Bison, the guard pug, with me and I made it around the neighborhood loop twice. A whopping 1.4 miles! Okay, I have some work to do.

Bison and I went again Friday morning and went around 3 times: 2.1 miles! ... and I nearly died, but I did it!

Sunday morning, I saw my friend and confessed that I had jogged a little that week and thought I was ready to jog with her on a regular basis.

"That's great!" she said. "So, you want to go tomorrow?"

"Sure."

And we jogged our 2.1 miles this morning. No excuses. Now I even have a good friend to hold me accountable. And I feel good today! A step forward. :)