No running, little sleep, just work
Now I know why I was procrastinating on that chapter. Deep down I knew it was going to be a challenging one to write. Somewhere inside me I knew it was going to take a lot of time, energy, and creative insight and I was lacking all three. I knew it was going to take some hard work and long days and nights. As a result, like a fool, I avoided it.

Now I'm making real progress. It is hard slogging, haven't sleep much in days. I have to work on it around everything else in my life so I've been spending many nights working on it until 2:30 or 3 am, then waking at 6:00 to begin my day anew. But...soon it will be done (at least a draft will be) and I will rejoice. Talk about your albatross!

The committee already annoys me. I can't believe I'm co-chair. I have a phone meeting today.

Hmmm. As a break, I played two games of poker yesterday. The first one I lost pretty quickly calling an "all in" with a FH 8s over 4s to a FH Qs over 8s. End of game. The second game I landed in nearly the same predicament. I had 3Ks with no flush, pairs, or overcards showing on the board. A hint of a straight. I called into heavy betting and lost to a straight on the river. Eventually, I got down to only $2 in chips. Incredibly, I came back to win everything. I had to use a lot of skill but I also needed a little luck on my side. Poker is a bit like life. You can't sit back and wait for things to happen. You have to get in there and risk something if you want to get somewhere. But taking a risk, even if the odds are in your favor, doesn't always work out. You need a little luck but you can often create your own luck if you pay attention and know when to make a move. I love poker but have very little time to indulge. I try to keep this desire in check (pun intended).

The kids continue to do fun things and show evolution in their development.

I tried to test R's comprehension of more complex sentence structures.
Me: *without pointing* Can you please take this toy and go over there and give it to your teacher?
R: *plods over to the teacher and hands her the toy then says with glee* Gheeee!

This morning R sat on my lap and I started gently stroking his face, head, and eyes. He sat there, completely still, for nearly 5 minutes. He is never still for 5 minutes unless he's asleep or sick.

T was playing in the bath yesterday and stuck a plastic cord into the boat so that it skimmed the surface of the water.
T: Look at this!
Me: Oh, what is it?
T: It is a regulizer.
Me: A regulizer? What's that?
T: It makes it so that the boat won't tip when the storms hit it.
*splashes water on the boat with a cup*
Me: Wow, that's a great idea. I like the name too.
T: I made them up.

T is fixated on Gilligan's Island, with a particular focus on one particular episode. He can sing all of the opening lyrics and he plays with his boat in the tub like it is the Minnow. It's quite cute.

Back to pounding at the rock (the chapter). I will finish this, I will finish this, I will finish this. Then I will run again. And sleep. And be less stressed.