Our new addition

10 days until marathon day! Also known as - let the weather stalking commence!

I would ordinarily be starting to get super nervous at this time, but in what I have yet to decide is a stroke of genius or total idiocy, I'm running a marathon right in the middle of Maryland schools state testing. So far, it's looking pretty good, since I'm so constantly stressed about testing that the idea of even being able to command my brain to stay focused on any other subject at all, much less long enough to become stressed, is hilarious. 

I had to add Gifs to this post because everyone was doing it.

The downside is that I don't deal with stress well. I'm not one of those lunatics that can't eat under stress, don't worry, nothing like that, but good sleep is pretty much out the window. 

Not exactly relevant but....PACEY.

Now, I know as a nearly 30 year old non parent complaining about lack of good sleep is grounds for tarring and feathering, but this is my blog and I'll do what I want. Last night, I couldn't fall asleep, then had nightmares about testing and the like, then woke up at 3:30 in a panic and couldn't fall back asleep. This last part was particularly upsetting because the one way in which I feel I am even somewhat equipped for someday keeping an infant (any myself) alive is that I am extremely good at immediately falling back asleep no matter what wakes me up in the middle of the night. I just can't afford to lose that skill.

All this has me really wondering how people who have jobs that are truly stressful manage. Doctors, nurses, anyone in the medical field, police officers, air traffic controllers, President Obama, Katniss - please weigh in.

But all is not lost. First of all, my life is slightly less of a mess now. When I came home from selling running shoes at 10pm last night, Eric had folded and put away all the laundry that had been covering the living room. More importantly, he made me brownies. Which are now gone. And I "only" had three. Do the math.

It gets better. When I came home today, this was happening.

Can you tell what it is?

A TREADMILL!!!

We'd been talking about getting a treadmill for awhile now. It was on a long list of things we were waiting until we bought a house to do, and we've pretty much decided screw the list, because that's not happening anytime soon and we ain't getting any younger. 

Right before Valentine's Day, Eric texted me (a big deal in and of itself) telling me there was a groupon for half off a treadmill, and we decided that would be our Valentine's Day gift, even though we never even get each other Vday gifts. Cost, justified (plus I'm quitting my gym). 

I've ranted about hating the treadmill before, but that was before I knew the joys of watching movies on the treadmill. Plus, spending my last two weekends in a hotel was quite an eye opener about how much easier it is to get motivated to run when it's cold and you don't have to go outside at all. And of course, the number one reason we wanted one is for down the line when we have little copper colored friends who need constant supervision. This is in no way a pregnancy announcement, but, just saying. 

How do you handle stress - I'm not just curious - I seriously need some ideas. Drinking and chocolate are great and all but they really only get you so far.

Edited to add: This just happened.

"Do you need help?" "No I'm good".