It has occurred to me that I wouldn't be entirely happy living out here in the Midwest, particularly in this area of MO, in St. Louis's suburbs. The area doesn't feed my soul. There's no scope for imagination. Specifically, it is too populated. Whenever I am outdoors, I feel that there are eyes watching. I don't think I am imagining things, either, because I always watch everyone else who is outdoors. Further, when I go for a walk there is nowhere to go. I know every street in my neighborhood - all of them populated by houses with neat, green lawns and well-kept trees. I long for a few of Virginia's rowdy, tall, beautiful trees - like near Joanna W.'s house in Richmond. We're too flat here, and we would never allow our leaves to fall in huge untidy heaps near the side of the road. A neighbor would leave a kindly note (like someone anonymously did for us the time we left our Christmas lights on the house until February) and let us know our lawn was an "eyesore."

So where am I to go to exercise? There is nowhere in pleasant walking distance, because the sidewalks disappear outside of the neighborhood and many cars constantly whisk past on the roads. I can run in the neighborhood, but then again, there are the eyes. And it's getting colder, and I'm out of shape, so I feel embarrassed. I suppose I can run on the high-school track; that is true. But even so, I feel like a caged animal running 'round and 'round with nowhere to go, no destination. I think I need a little bit of Wild, a real forest, a cliff, a lovely river. We have rivers here, but if you wander into them you need a tetanus shot. :D

At least I have Tae Kwon Do classes. We'll be starting those again next month, the same time I kick myself into working/exercising/researching mode. I can hardly wait. I miss doing difficult, beautiful, semi-deadly things with my body. :) Heehee... I tried to do some weights this week, and I can barely walk today. Still, I am glad I began this week instead of saving them for the same days I begin intensive cardio again, or I would not be able to get off my bed.

I'm sorry if this is a complaining post again. Winter, I think, is pressing in on me as well. :) God is still good.  ¶ 5:45 PM