I have a bit of trouble sleeping after the trip to Thailand. Part of it is related to the vastly different temperatures and part of it is related to the continuous sitting and inactivity that occupied all of Monday. Thus I get up on Tuesday at 4 am, work on some paperwork, and then get out for a very cold 4 mile run. (Quite a change from the Bangkok 90 degree temperatures to the Long Beach 50 degree morning temperatures.)
The Tuesday is spent (after the run) paying bills, doing the laundry, picking up 3 weeks worth of mail, some grocery shopping, and mowing the lawn. After getting cleaned up I head for work and get a start on answering the 342 emails that are in my Inbox. After work I work on abdominals and start catching up on phone calls.
During the rest of the week I try to get back into a rythym of running every other day in the morning and lifting weights every other day afte work. On Friday I drive to work because it is raining. Except for trips to the airport, this is the first time that I've driven to work since March. During the day I speak with Person D_X and Person T_U about going out, but it's cold and I'm just a bit under the weather. So I stay in on Friday night and try to stay warm.
On Saturday I'm up early for a 40 minute run, a nice warm shower, a medley of vegetables for breakfast, doing the laundry, and then some grocery shopping. Because there is rain predicted for the afternoon, I take off for the aquarium ride late in the morning. It's a cold and windy ride, but nothing could possibly feel better than being back on a serious bicycle after a three week layoff (due to travel). I visit Person T_U to drop off some cookies from Bangkok and a CD of pictures and then my neighbors catch me and want to hear about my trip. So I spend an hour talking with them before heading back for home to relax.
Sunday is a slow day. I run for 50 minutes early in the morning, watch the Lions lose a heartbreaker, and then get out for another aquarium ride. It's a bit warmer today, but it is still chilly. I watch a bit more football throughout the day and get things in order (that were dis-ordered from the trip to Thailand).
The workweek goes by quickly though I become increasing frustrated with vendors and subcontractors throughout the week. I get in good, but cold, morning runs on Tuesday and Thursday and get in good workouts with the weights on the other days. On Wednesday I leave work a bit early and see my doctor for a physical. We catch up on times and health and I get the notice to come back and give blood (when fasting) and to schedule other tests.
Friday starts with Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, the 27 mile loop bicycle ride, and a visit to the acupuncturist. I let the acupuncturist know that I am feeling good right now and I just need some maintenance - thus it is a short visit today. Afterwards I mow the front lawn very short and clean up the roses (which have been neglected since before I went to Thailand).
Late on Friday I get in a decent session with the weights and then head for clubs in West Hollywood. I get a wristband for the herd/clone club and then cannot get into the second club because it is clsoed for a private party. Thus I head back to the herd/clone club and hang out with acquaintances and friends. Person T_U gets to the club early and joins Person J_J, Person D_B, and Person D_X and myself for fun. It's a reasonable evening and I find myself back home and turning out the lights for sleep near 3:30 am on Saturday morning.
Saturday is a slow day. It starts off with me giving blood to the laboratory for analysis (following the physical). I get in a quick bicycle ride down to the aquarium and back before heading over to Mom and Dad's to exchange last year's holiday gifts (Yes, last year's holiday gifts!) and this year's holiday gifts. When I get home I cook some curry vegetables and relax with the Saturday evening football game.
On Sunday I get up early and run about 5 miles. After a shower I take an Amtrak train and a San Diego trolley to Qualcomm Stadium (formerly Jack Murphy Stadium) to watch the Detroit Lions play the San Diego Chargers. It is a total blow-out. The Chargers win 51-14. Midway through the second quarter a co-worker pulls out a paper bag and puts it over his head (showing the universally-accepted sign of embarassment at the way that the Detroit Lions are playing). I see that he actually has a doubel bag, so I ask for one of the bags and put it over my head. When the Lions score a touchdown to almost make it look like they will be in the game, I remove the paperbag. But later in the third quarter I have to put it back on. After reversing the transportation effort I am back at home at 9 pm.
Monday is a frustrating day at work as everyone, and I mean everyone, comes into my office, emails me, or calls wanting something. I deal with it the best that I can and then get in a good session with the weights after work to relieve stress. But then there are phone calls from work at home. This is too much.