Back to Reality #26

I'm back home after 2,5 months at the clinic. I can't really say that I made a significant progress in that period, but I almost overcame depression which is mega super awesome! ^_^ I still can't function as "normal" people, but I'm working on it every single day.

Here are some winter photos of my second home. As a part of my therapy, I walked a dog named Astra. She uplifted me so many times. :)

Remind me the Story That I won't get Insane

Dear virtual friends, I wanted to say hi. Just as I came back to the blogosphere I disappeared again. This happened because I was hospitalized in the psyhiatric hospital. I've been more or less healthy for the last five years but so much happened in the last year that I mentally collapsed. However, I'm certain that I'm at the right place now and that I will get better. As a part of my therapy I'm gonna try to regularly post shorter blogs. No planning, just going with the flow. I apologize for grammar mistakes and weird sentences because it's still hard for me to concentrate and form coherent sentences.

Let's Get Physical in February

I'm happy to tell you that I've been doing better than when I last joined lovely Evani's link-up. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions (I never do), but I'm proud of the beginning of 2013 anyway. 

Facts & Confessions

I often crave sugar and alcohol, especially when I'm stressed out. Because I live in the middle of nowhere now, I have to drive a car when I meet with my friends. That means: not even a drop for the next year and a half. It's a little annoying cause I really like to relax with a glass of good wine, but it makes me drink much less than I had been used to.

I make a lot of desserts, but I'm always trying out healthier alternatives. I've realized that you can make great desserts from vegetables and legumes. Others love them too if I don't tell them about secret ingredients. ;) I think I'm consuming more veggies than ever before and I actually enjoy them, especially raw and baked. I have a feeling that other family members think I'm going nuts.

I'm also (interval) running regularly for the first time in my life and I'm getting a little addicted to it - my body gets nervous every 48 hours if I don't put on my running shoes. It probably helps that I'm surrounded by a beautiful natural scenery when I run. It really makes me happy. I sleep better and I don't consume as many tranquillizers and caffeine as I used to, although I'm still facing lots of difficulties in my everyday life. But(!) I still stay at home when it rains/snows - I'm not that serious about it (yet). 

February Goals

1. Every week pick 5 smaller challenges and complete at least 4 of them

A few months ago I singed up on SlimKicker. It's a page for tracking eating and exercising habits in a fun way (following the concept of level-up games). I'm too lazy to log what I eat and how much I exercise, but I like to join different challenges (duh ;)).  So far I've completed challenges like:

- Skip your favorite junk food

- 20 pushups a day

- Sleep at 11PM for a week (this one was hard!)

- Information diet challenge (too easy, hehe) and

- Delay your cravings.

The last challenge I failed was Avoid gluten foods. I'm gonna try it again, but I'll wait for the carnival time to pass. :D Anyone on this site? Let's be friends! My profile.

2. Complete 6th weeks of C25K running program

I've heard a lot about this "Couch to 5k" program. I finally decided to give it a try and it rocks. I listen to Podrunner Intervals by DJ Beatsmith. Awesome stuff. Highly motivating, great music and I always know how fast I should run/walk. It's almost like running with a personal trainer (I'm speaking from experience).

So what you're waiting for? ;)

Hello World!

I can't believe it took us 5 months to set up the internet connectivity. Well not us, but the people who are paid to do it. I won't complain too much because it felt pretty good to be unplugged for so long. Yeah, it was annoying to nag my friends whenever I had an urgent need to use the nets, but I had miraculously more time for traditional hobbies like reading, knitting and running in the woods. So here is a little peek from my walks. I hope everyone is doing great and if not great - at least better than in the 2012. ;)

Top Ten Books To Get In The Halloween Spirit

The other day I was thinking about putting up a top ten Halloween-friendly books and decided to do it only in case I find enough free time. But today I came by a meme called Top Ten Tuesday which is dedicated to the same theme this week. I couldn't resist the urge to create my own list this exact moment. Packing kitchen appliances can wait (yay, we're finally moving to the new house!). 

Note: this is no ultimate list, so it's highly subjective and excludes many great works I haven't yet had a chance to read. Written in no particular order.

1. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Obvious choice since I wrote a spontaneous review about it today. Incredible psychological thriller.

2. The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

Do you have to entertain children? This story could be the perfect read! Funny and charming.

3. Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami

The Dolphin Hotel gave me the creeps. So did the Sheep Man.

4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Austen's entertaining gothic horror parody.

5. Watchers by Dean Koontz 

This novel and I are of the same age, but I could easily picture it in the today's world. I was totally spooked by The Outsider!

6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Another novel that held me in suspense to the end. Also one of the best works ever written.

7. The Fall of the House of Usher and other tales by Edgar Allan Poe

A classic and the most perfect read for a Halloween night. I can't believe that this guy lived in the 19th century!

8. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Great read for a young lady. The memory of that house haunted me for ages.

9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

What's with those houses and hotels with secrets? I just can't get enough of them!

10. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

What would you do if you turned into a gigantic insect overnight?

What's your choice of read to get in the Halloween spirit? Or do you prefer to be spooked by your own television? Maybe I'll post a top 10 for movies too. :)