Sunday, February 1, 2009

close demise of the energizer bunny

Sitting still has always been one of my biggest challenges. My friends know that if I'm ever on the couch (or in bed) all day long (alone), doing nothing else but watching television, I must be seriously ill or gravely depressed. Otherwise, I'm just one of those people that keep going, going, and going ... like the energizer bunny, as I've been called by many of my peers. But yesterday, I probably used up almost every bit of battery I was working off of ... because when I finally got home at 2am this morning, I nearly passed out on my couch. It took extra effort to wash my face, brush my teeth and change into my pjs ... but then, the moment I touched the couch, I was gone. And when my alarm went off at 7:45 this morning, I woke up with this startling fear that my overused battery had completely died, and I had become paralyzed during the few hours I slept because I couldn't move. At all. And all that kept running through my head was "I want sleep. I want sleep. I want sleep." So, I gave in. Pulled my blankie over my head, and went back to sleep. It's amazing what an extra hour of sleep can do because when I woke up at 8:45, my battery had finally recharged, and here I go. Again.

Now that I have time to reflect upon yesterday, I realized that yes, I can be quite insane with my overbooked schedule. Ever since I decided that I was going to make time for everyone in my life, when I can, well, I did. I do. And if I can fit everyone in one day, one weekend ... well, why not? It's not everyday. And not every weekend.

So, I started my Saturday at 6:45 a.m. (after less than four hours of broken sleep), by picking up my brother and sister-in-law for their first 3-mile run around the golf course. Although a bit tired from the night before, I forced myself to get up since I had agreed to train them and run with them every Saturday morning (and it wasn't their fault I didn't get enough sleep). Then, when we got to the golf course, I found that running wasn't the hard part because once you start, that runner's high takes you to this place where you feel invincible, and you just keep going, and going, and going.

Making it to my 10:30 pedicure appointment was a little more of a struggle. Between talking to my friend about the details of her upcoming bachelorette party, making myself breakfast, then finally getting into the shower took a lot more coordination than I thought. But I made it to the salon at 10:35, and it was there that I felt the exhaustion set in. Since I wasn't my usual "chipper" self, Lisa (my pedicurist of six years) asked me if everything was okay. I went into this whole rundown of my schedule for the rest of the day, and how I needed to finish "Love in the Time of Cholera" during my pedicure session since I have my first book club meeting in the evening. Lisa listened intently, said something in Vietnamese to the other manicurists, then they all scolded me the same lecture they have been preaching for the last six years, "You never get a boyfriend with schedule like that. You need husband." Yeah, yeah ...

The day didn't end there although I thought I was not going to make it out of the salon. The day was only beginning actually. I still had to meet my mother and the realtor to look at yet another condo. Still had C's baby shower, the book club meeting, and then, party with K. What to do? What to do? Well, my aunt always told me, even if you don't feel great, you have to look great. Fake it. So, instead of throwing on a pair of jeans, T-shirt and flip-flops for the baby shower, which I was VERY tempted to do, I took my aunt's advice and put on a dress, brushed my hair, did my make-up, and amazingly, I did feel better. Although, I still wore the flip-flops. :)

The best part, however, was the mini-high school reunion at the baby shower. And yes, I just have to say this here. (N, you will get a kick out of this!) I had not seen preggy C's family for about ten years, and when preggy C's dad saw me walk in with M, he mistook me as M's little sister, who is about 15 years younger than me! It was hilarious! And I thought, ok, I don't look as old and haggard after all. :) Later on, I was even congratulated by preggy C's cousin, who again, had not seen me in over ten years. Congratulations for what? I asked. Your wedding, she said. I was quite surprised! I didn't know I was getting married. Again, she mistook me for (you) N. I don't think M was very happy about that.

So, this whole thing taught me quite a lesson. Even if you're feeling quite crappy and exhausted, don't allow yourself to look it. And naturally, you'll feel ... as good as you make yourself look. And those Evian sprays ... they work!

I was able to make it to the book club meeting, have quite an intense debate with my fellow Leos, and also had enough energy to party with fellow single girl, K. However, K was a little disappointed that I wouldn't drink, and I didn't have the momentum to meet any of the good-lookin' men at the bar. I had to have my limits. I'll sit there, and smile. Converse with the person next to me. But, going out of my way to meet some strange, good-looking man, then try to talk to him in the loud, crowded bar, all the while smiling, takes a different type of mindset. And required extra energy. I wasn't going to do it, I said. Thus, I wasn't quite a good "wing-woman" last night. But hey, even the energizer bunny slows down ... eventually.

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