So the rest of my Sunday was nice. After my morning trainer ride, I headed off to church. This Sunday they had a special string quartet performing a four part piece commissioned by City Church. It's always enjoyable to listen to new music. After church, I headed straight to Foreign Cinema, a restaurant in the Mission District of SF for my friend Anna's baby shower. Anna is a friend of mine from my PacWest Athletics days and she is such a cute pregnant lady! Little Braydon Richard is due on May 13. Per Anna, he already has more clothes than she does! I'm looking forward to meeting him soon. : )
The weather in SF was gorgeous this weekend! Finally... It was 77 degrees in the city. People were flocking to the parks, enjoying the rare sun this time of year. I love SF and it is an incredibly beautiful place, but it can get chilly! It was nice to have some warm, spring weather. My Sunday ended with me running a few errands and heading back to my apartment for cleaning and laundry. I know, it doesn't sound glamorous, but overall it was a really nice day! Sun and friends make me happy.
BTW, I woke up this morning and my knee felt fine. Yay. Oh, and the ON sign is being fixed tomorrow morning. Phew...
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
No... I'm Ali
A few years ago, if anyone ever told me I would go to two church services in one day, I would have thought they were crazy. Well, today it happened. I was looking forward to attending City Church since I hadn't been there for a few weeks due to my work and personal travels. I was running a little late this morning so I rushed into the Russian Center, where City Church holds it's services, put my things down next to my friend Vicki and dashed off to see if there were any doughnuts left. "Yes!" I thought to myself, as I grabbed the last old fashioned glazed doughnut. Yum... so happy about that. I got some coffee, said hello to my physical therapy friend, Bryan, and the service started. I was all set up to take in the teaching of the day. It was nice to be back into my Sunday routine. After the service I chatted with a few friends from my community group, went to a class and was done around 2:30 PM. OK... that was church #1.
I hurried home before I set off to the 4:00 PM service at church #2 because I realized I should have some pictures with me of Meg, Morgan, and David. I had been invited to what was called a "Rally Sunday" at Golden Gate Community Church (GGCC). GGCC was my sister Meg's church during the many years she lived in San Francisco. She loved GGCC and even though she is very happy in Spokane, I'm sure she misses her friends from her old church a lot. Over a year ago, when I started looking into churches in SF, it was important to me to go somewhere other than GGCC. It was nothing against her church, it was that Meg was incredibly involved. She was a big part of the worship music and often sang in front of the congregation. Myself, on the other hand, had not attended church regularly since I was a teenager. I didn't even really know what it meant to be a Christian so I decided it was best for me to go somewhere where I wasn't known. I needed to find my own path and not be expected to fill Meg's shoes. I knew I couldn't do that, not by a long shot!
I enjoyed the service this afternoon at Golden Gate. It was different than City Church, but good at the same time. They had a group called "Thankful" playing praise music and seriously rocked out! I had gone to a few GGCC services with Meg over the years and they always played upbeat music, but this with a notch up from that. When the service was over, I braced myself for the inevitable. Yup... here it comes... a man walked up to me and said, "Meg Bottomley!" Gulp, flash a smile. "No... I'm Ali."
I'm more used to this situation than you may think. The advertising agency I worked at when I first moved to SF, was three blocks away from a design firm where Meg used to work. Every month at least one person approached me on the street with, "Meg! It's so great to see you!" They would look embarrassed and confused when I said, "No," but were relieved when I explained we are twins. Today one woman walked by me and said, "Wow, you look great after just having a baby!" Hee. Meg does look great, but of course I had to let her know I wasn't Meg. There were a few people that walked over and said, "You're Meg's twin, right?" Everyone I met was very nice and I even had a chance to catch up a little with my high school friend Kathy. Of course everyone was super excited to see the photos I brought of Meg, David, and Morgan in her Easter bunny ears.
When I left the church this evening I laughed to myself. I thought, someday... I don't know where, I don't know when, but someone is going to walk up to Meg and say, "Hi Ali!" She will have to say, "No... I'm Meg."
I hurried home before I set off to the 4:00 PM service at church #2 because I realized I should have some pictures with me of Meg, Morgan, and David. I had been invited to what was called a "Rally Sunday" at Golden Gate Community Church (GGCC). GGCC was my sister Meg's church during the many years she lived in San Francisco. She loved GGCC and even though she is very happy in Spokane, I'm sure she misses her friends from her old church a lot. Over a year ago, when I started looking into churches in SF, it was important to me to go somewhere other than GGCC. It was nothing against her church, it was that Meg was incredibly involved. She was a big part of the worship music and often sang in front of the congregation. Myself, on the other hand, had not attended church regularly since I was a teenager. I didn't even really know what it meant to be a Christian so I decided it was best for me to go somewhere where I wasn't known. I needed to find my own path and not be expected to fill Meg's shoes. I knew I couldn't do that, not by a long shot!
I enjoyed the service this afternoon at Golden Gate. It was different than City Church, but good at the same time. They had a group called "Thankful" playing praise music and seriously rocked out! I had gone to a few GGCC services with Meg over the years and they always played upbeat music, but this with a notch up from that. When the service was over, I braced myself for the inevitable. Yup... here it comes... a man walked up to me and said, "Meg Bottomley!" Gulp, flash a smile. "No... I'm Ali."
I'm more used to this situation than you may think. The advertising agency I worked at when I first moved to SF, was three blocks away from a design firm where Meg used to work. Every month at least one person approached me on the street with, "Meg! It's so great to see you!" They would look embarrassed and confused when I said, "No," but were relieved when I explained we are twins. Today one woman walked by me and said, "Wow, you look great after just having a baby!" Hee. Meg does look great, but of course I had to let her know I wasn't Meg. There were a few people that walked over and said, "You're Meg's twin, right?" Everyone I met was very nice and I even had a chance to catch up a little with my high school friend Kathy. Of course everyone was super excited to see the photos I brought of Meg, David, and Morgan in her Easter bunny ears.
When I left the church this evening I laughed to myself. I thought, someday... I don't know where, I don't know when, but someone is going to walk up to Meg and say, "Hi Ali!" She will have to say, "No... I'm Meg."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Single in the City
I'm sorry I haven't entered a new post for a few weeks. I've been in a bit of a "lull" in terms of subjects I feel are best to post to my blog. As this is a type of personal journal for me, I sometimes struggle whether to post details that may be deemed too personal. You are my family and friends and if I am experiencing the frustrating times of life, I'm sure you would be quite understanding. I also wonder if maybe you have read about enough as you can handle about my knee or my niece Morgan... still, I hesitate to show as much candor towards my personal life. Let's just say I've been having "single girl in the city" moments lately. Oh and this doesn't imply they are the Sarah Jessica Parker frivolous type, I've just been a little lonely. ; ) All is well, I assure you! My life has been upended in terms of my friends over the past year as many of them used to stem from my running and triathlon training team. Since I am no longer able to participate in that group, I have been searching for other social circles to join and get involved. As pathetic as it may sound, I have to admit, some days it's easiest to lie on my cozy couch and watch shows I recorded on my TiVo.
As I am sure some of you can empathize with me, I realize this behavior is not getting me anywhere towards where I want to be in my life. Based on this, I've decided I need to get out more and accept as many invitations to be social as possible. Maybe even initiating invitations myself! Imagine that? The result in the last week or so has been more than I expected. I have been enjoying movies and dinners out with new and old friends. On March 8, I'll be embarking on a Point Reyes hike/BBQ with new friends from church. This is all good. I'll keep you posted on any fun events that hopefully arise, I promise! I live in a great city and even though I've been here for some time, there is much to explore. Obviously, this is an area where TiVo will not be able to help me! Hopefully, it will be my couch that is lonely for a while.
As I am sure some of you can empathize with me, I realize this behavior is not getting me anywhere towards where I want to be in my life. Based on this, I've decided I need to get out more and accept as many invitations to be social as possible. Maybe even initiating invitations myself! Imagine that? The result in the last week or so has been more than I expected. I have been enjoying movies and dinners out with new and old friends. On March 8, I'll be embarking on a Point Reyes hike/BBQ with new friends from church. This is all good. I'll keep you posted on any fun events that hopefully arise, I promise! I live in a great city and even though I've been here for some time, there is much to explore. Obviously, this is an area where TiVo will not be able to help me! Hopefully, it will be my couch that is lonely for a while.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Day of Rest
Happy Wednesday! It's mid-week and I am already beat. I'm not sure why exactly. I've noticed ever since I had to stop training, my sleeping patterns are different. I don't feel like I sleep nearly as deep or as soundly as I used to. I wake up in the morning feeling sluggish and pushing snooze several (yes, several) times before I finally drag myself out of bed. I distinctly remember my high school biology teacher, Mr. RInehart, telling us he knew when he was in really good shape. He said when he woke up in the morning, he was wide awake immediately. Good sleep, ready to go. Mr. Rinehart played football for the Los Angeles Rams, so I figured he had a good take on what "in shape" meant. So, when I wake up in the morning and all I want to do is go back to sleep, I worry about my health a little. When I was in my best shape while training for a half-ironman, it was a lot of work. Thing is, I don't recall being exhausted believe it or not. Sometimes mentally, but not physically. Well... maybe after 6 mos of training, but not the "not wanting to get out of bed" type of tired. I can't wait to get back into shape! I know it will be a long time before I'm in any kind of training shape again, but my goal is for the feel-comfortable-in-my own-skin type of shape. I joined the fitness center at UCSF - Mission Bay, near my work. They have two, yes TWO pools! An indoor and rooftop (yeah, outdoors) pool. I am hoping I can start to break up my work day with a visit to the gym at least a few times a week.
So, today I was just tired. I was trying all day to get myself prepared to see my friends Lisa and Seth and their new baby Laurel after work. I ended up having late work meetings and just felt mentally tired. I know, I flaked. I'm sorry Lis! Don't worry, it wasn't just work. I still love my job. I simply had one of those days that was meeting after meeting and I needed some down time tonight. I'm REALLY hoping to see the Socolows this weekend.
It's been a busy week already. Yesterday, I had the typical day at work, then went right to physical therapy and finally to my church Community Group (CG = small bible study) at 7:30 PM. It was great, but I didn't get home until 10:20 PM. I saw Susan, my PT. I hadn't seen her for a few weeks since I was not able to fit into her schedule. Susan said she thought the swelling had subsided in my knee since she had last seen me. Great! Although I haven't been doing anything to really *test* it lately. I told my CG about my knee injury and surgery. I mentioned how a few years ago I was more or less obsessed with training for races. I've recognized that maybe there was a reason my knee injury happened and interestingly enough -- needed to happen to me. Balance is important in life. The leader of our CG Katie looked up towards the ceiling and said, "God, she "get's it," she knows she needs to balance her life better. Now, heal her knee!" Well put. Katie made me smile.
So, today I was just tired. I was trying all day to get myself prepared to see my friends Lisa and Seth and their new baby Laurel after work. I ended up having late work meetings and just felt mentally tired. I know, I flaked. I'm sorry Lis! Don't worry, it wasn't just work. I still love my job. I simply had one of those days that was meeting after meeting and I needed some down time tonight. I'm REALLY hoping to see the Socolows this weekend.
It's been a busy week already. Yesterday, I had the typical day at work, then went right to physical therapy and finally to my church Community Group (CG = small bible study) at 7:30 PM. It was great, but I didn't get home until 10:20 PM. I saw Susan, my PT. I hadn't seen her for a few weeks since I was not able to fit into her schedule. Susan said she thought the swelling had subsided in my knee since she had last seen me. Great! Although I haven't been doing anything to really *test* it lately. I told my CG about my knee injury and surgery. I mentioned how a few years ago I was more or less obsessed with training for races. I've recognized that maybe there was a reason my knee injury happened and interestingly enough -- needed to happen to me. Balance is important in life. The leader of our CG Katie looked up towards the ceiling and said, "God, she "get's it," she knows she needs to balance her life better. Now, heal her knee!" Well put. Katie made me smile.
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