The Married Life: Nagging = Easy Home Self-Improvement

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Am I a nag? 

Do I nag too much?

Can nagging ever be a good thing? Suppose, for example, one nagged to help one's partner improve themselves, thereby living a happier, more meaningful existence. Or that one nagged in a subtle attempt to influence the behavior of another. Or, that one nagged because I'VE TOLD BLAIR SOMETHING 500 TIMES AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SINKING IN SO MAYBE IF I SAY IT ANOTHER 500 TIMES IT WILL TAKE. 

Whew! That felt good.

Okay, I'll admit it. I nag. Which is worrisome, as I read a study recently that said...

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The Married Life: Bowling Night

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Many moons ago, when Blair was courting me, he took me bowling. Nothing quite says romance like pulling on rented shoes and bending over to heave a ball so your date can see just how big your ass really is. 

The date would mark Blair's first glimpse into the true nature of my personality. I'd been on "good date" behavior until then, laughing at all jokes, smiling beguiling, and surreptitiously applying lip gloss whenever his back was turned in the hopes he would think my lips were just naturally luminescent. But we'd been out a few times and it was time to take off the kid gloves.

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Why A Bad Run Can Be A Good Thing

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Thank you, God, for keeping me humble...

This was the refrain going through my mind yesterday morning as I struggled to complete the last 20-mile run of my training. And struggled is the word. I knew I was in trouble around mile 14 when I started slowing on what was already a slow pace day. All I had to do was hold an 8:50 pace. At this point in my training, that should be a no-brainer. But glances at my Garmin showed me my pace was creeping up to an 8:52... 8:55. I'd speed up to lower it back down but it's fighting a losing battle at that point as the speeding up sucks any remaining energy from you. 

I was having a hard time mentally with the fact that the run wasn't going well. Lately I've been not only nailing my paces  for runs but often beating them. I wanted to end this last long run on a high note. Instead, it was a reality check.

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The Married Life: Tracking Devices Optional

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THE SCENE: Last Saturday, upstairs in Blair's office. Blair is happily typing away at his laptop when I fling myself into the chair beside his desk. It's a few minutes before I leave for my long run and I know Blair is heading into town later that morning for a haircut.

"What phone are you taking today?" I ask. "Your blackberry or cell phone?"

"I don't usually carry a phone with me on the weekend," said Blair.

"I know," I said. "So my question is, which one will you be carrying today?"

"Ah. I see," he said.

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