Solid!

A choice to see the world — or at least the week — through some rose-colored, rhinestoned glasses

Mar 07, 2025

Aprés ski with my favorite ski bunny! (Bunny is her new favorite animal, FYI. She still wants a cat, but we’re in a big bunny phase at the moment.)

It’s been a solid week!

I was really productive this week. Like really productive. I crossed off tasks that have been on my to-do list for weeks, I sent emails I didn’t really want to send, and I made phone calls I’d been procrastinating making for.e.ver. I built (fine, assembled) shelves.

Last week was Annie’s February break, and we spent it skiing and exploring the best of New Hampshire (“up north” — which, to me, is anything north of Concord, much like how in New York, “upstate” is anything that’s not New York City, Westchester, or Long Island, and I’m not here to debate those facts — in the winter).

Annie and I enjoyed nine and a half blissful days together, and I savored every second. Annie skied from the top of the mountain at Bretton Woods to the bottom. I swear she smiled the entire way down. We wore sparkles on our faces, ate candy in the lodge overlooking Mount Washington, and did cartwheels in ski boots.

We saw friends and family, and we snuggled every single night. (Annie chooses to sleep in my bed every night we are together. This started around a year ago, and I gave into it easily. I asked Emily Oster, and she says it’s fine. Someday Annie won’t want to sleep in bed with mommy, and right now we both love it. Ellie, too. A big pile of love.)

I was up early every day this week, and logged 20–30 minutes of Peloton strength. I call it my Lazy Girl Fitness, because I do it in my pajamas (or favorite robe), and I usually opt for an “Arms & Light Weights” class over a true Upper Body workout, and I’m usually scrolling while I’m doing crunches and planks. But hey, it’s something.

I ran and I walked.

I tended to the mental and emotional sides too, and had a really good therapy session this week. You know the kind where you leave feeling better instead of worse? (What? Sometimes I leave feeling worse! It’s not Martha’s fault!) Martha hugged me at the end. I promptly started brainstorming friendship bracelet ideas for her. I told her that her approval is my oxygen, and she told me “we need to work on that next time.” I love her.

I made time for friends! Brunch. Catching up in the parking lot at kindergarten drop off and pick up. FaceTimes during dinner and phone calls while walking Ellie. Nonstop hour-long conversations in the lobby at the dance studio, and even longer conversations on the sidelines at the trampoline park. A very fast early-morning 6.2-mile walk with my very best neighbor. Filled my heart, filled my cup. I felt well loved and well connected to people this week. I love that feeling. (I think if we all felt that daily, the world would actually be OK.)

(Hey, drop your shoulders. I just realized mine are all tensed up by my ears. I’ll drop mine. You drop yours. Three deep breaths while we’re at it. Wellness warriors.)

Last week was my final week of winter ski racing, and I’m so sad it’s over. That was my whole personality this winter! Now what?! (I have so many ideas for my new Monday night hobby, actually. I have lists! Are we surprised?!)

The last night of racing was really fun. I raced head-to-head against my dad in our final slalom of the season (me representing Tooky Dream Team, him representing the Tooky Yardsailors). He beat me, of course, but I was closer than I’ve ever been! The weather was perfect, the conditions were great, and the Tooky teams (“Tooky” for Contoocook, our town; there are five teams under the “Tooky” umbrella) celebrated the season with a toast at the bottom of the final run.

I am so glad I did this. It got me out of the house on Monday nights, when Annie is with her dad. It got me to the mountain more times in one season than in the previous, oh, 10 years combined. I got to eat chili (with a side of fries) for dinner every Monday night, all winter long.

It was so fun to do something new and challenging. It was so fun meeting new people. It was fun to get better! And sometimes worse! It was fun to do something without taking it too seriously. It was fun to have fun. Ski team brought out something in me that I hadn’t felt in a long time, and that I really liked. More of that, please.

Solid week.

SPONSOR SHOUT OUTS

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And so…

Take good care of yourselves. Take good care of each other. Drop your shoulders again. And whatever you’re going through, keep going.

(You’ve got this. You’re doing great.)

Love,

Ali

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