Something Special Happened Today

2011, for me, on paper, has had the fun sucked out of it.

My wonderful father, as many of you know, has been in a series of hospitals and rehab centers since a hip replacement went bad in January*. My amazing husband has had his share of unpleasant encounters with the medical community. I missed out on a fabulous trip to Switzerland and France. I haven’t written squat. Dear friends have moved away, and some people that I thought loved me apparently don’t.

*The take-home message: no elective surgery. Ever. Kiss that nose job goodbye. Also the face lift.

Despite the crap, however, I have experienced some profoundly affirming things in 2011. My family in Texas has humbled me with their love and kindness. Jay has continued to be my best friend and most ardent cheerleader. Friends have enriched me by spending time with me. And, I have had a kick-ass group of athletes ready to sweat and swear with me every week.

And these things, my friends, are nothing to sneeze at.

Here’s the playlist for my penultimate Wednesday spin class*. Only one to go!

*This is a lie. I also slipped in that scorching “Everlong” remix from last week. I’m weak that way.

Even better: here’s some free music!

Blacc reminds me a little of Sam Cooke or Bill Withers, singing old-school soul songs of the sort I would have heard on the radio in the 1970s, and I can think of no better way to presage a sweat-fest than with the lyric, “Something special happened today.” I also went back to the well with some of my favorite climbing tracks of recent history: Muse’s “Resistance,” We Were Promised Jetpacks’s “It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning,” and Jane’s Addiction’s “Irresistible Force.”

The Aloe Blacc remix is here

The Flo Rida remix is here

The Icky Thump remix is here

 Happy riding!