I just heard about the power outages this morning! My boss's two sons are both having their colleges shut down (Santa Cruz and Humboldt State, I think)... supposedly for several days? I hope you have everything you need to make it through!
Congratulations!!! You look amazing!! Enjoy your decompression, and get some extra cake if need be, you earned it ;)
Not a weightlifter but I did something similar to myself last weekend, when I did intense cleaning on Saturday and then went for a steep hike on Sunday. Apparently the cleaning involved more load on my legs than I had realized because the hike almost killed me... it was not a pretty picture stumbling home, lol.
This just gave me a great idea for a sketch about the first Pirate Pope. "That evil be heresy! Confess your sins while ye walk the plank, yarrr."
(I have a very sketchy notion of both piracy and Catholicism... shrug)
I have a friend whose "safe word" for exiting parties/ social events is an unusual type of fruit. Maybe you and J can come up with something similar? "Have you ever tried RUTABAGA? I hear that pureed RUTABAGA is delicious..."
Pork with peaches sounds great, I'll have to add that to my list of things to make with all the peaches dropping off my backyard tree! Sorry to hear about dance folks and coworkers though. Save the peach pits to pelt them with.
I have also spent many years in the academic systems and am currently at an education nonprofit, so September is definitely its own New Year feeling. It's not too overwhelming so far this year, more of a "back to the grind" ... my organization has casual dress code during the summer and lets us leave early on Fridays, so coming up on Labor Day there's a strong back-to-school aura about it all. Maybe I'll go shop for some colored pencils and new shoes?
Gahhhhh the thumb! We need thumbs! Although, I just had the whimsical thought that if you tape both of your thumbs to the palm of your hands, you could practice being a dog or other small mammal. So... there is that? I hope it heals up soon.
My hoodie/ long hair solution is low ponytail or bun. Or roll the hair into a rope with no fastener -> twist -> tuck -> repeat as it emerges throughout the day.
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Opus