windshields and walks

Friday driving to the YW a pebble hit my windshield on route 378. Ended up with a hole and spider crack. So I came home and made an appointment for today to have it replaced. Told them I needed my car for work at 12.

I took it up this morning, and walked home, did some work and waited. At 11 I called and asked the status. They were working on it, it would be done soon. About 11:45 or so they called it was done but i had to wait four hours to pick it up.

What?

The sealant must cure for four hours or the sealant won't cure.

Why the hell did you tell me that before. I told you I needed to use it by noon.

Shit, I was in big trouble. I get home from work after they close, and needed the car before they opened in the morning. So I walked up to get my keys, briefcase, pay and work out a plan. Plan A call friends who are retired. They aren't home. Plan B walk walk home and take the bus. And I forgot my briefcase.

The bus was an experience. About a year ago they totally revamped our bus system and it's awful. Less runs, more waits, but worse all new numbers and routes. Pat sat there and figured out the bus issues —101 goes to NCC—and I looked for change for the bus. The timing worked out better to walk over to the transportation center and take the 101 to NCC. I planned to leave the students out a hair early, and take the bus home.

I ended up eating in the cafeteria. It's the first time I ever wanted more food than a salad, and they had nothing I could eat on a blood work/doctor week. I'm shocked our students aren't enormous. Thick crust pizza, burgers, fries, fried everything, pasta smothered in sauces. No sandwich station. We all know, salad bars a mine field also. There were pre-packed veggies and fruit.

Ended up making a salad, then stopping at the vending machine and getting trial mix to add protein.

While I was grading waiting for class to start, my phone rang. It was my retired friend, offering me a ride home.

todays walk

Today we kept the walk simple. Lyd was still a little sore from yesterdays stair climb. She' not used to using steps anymore, she lives in a modular home.

We left the dog with Pat and then headed up the hill, out Sioux and Summit, thru Lehigh and out 5th. That's where we encountered this car covered with post-it notes. Then we went down Hayes, and came back the Greenway and Broadway.

 3.25 miles, in about 70 minutes.

hooping

My niece Maria makes and teaches people hula hoop. Soon she'll be opening a fitness studio called Polesque Fitness in Louisville, Kentucky. She'll be teaching fitness pole dancing, hula hoops, stiletto fitness and some other stuff. If you're in the ’hood and in need of a different kind of workout, check out her studio.

Anyway, she sent custom made hula hoops up for Bonnie, me, Lyd, my niece Eryn and her daughter Lil Bug. We picked them up yesterday after the stair climb and tried them out at my house last night and today.

I could get mind around maybe twice before it fell.

Lydia got hers around 5 or 6 times and actually had some good form.

Sharon tried and failed horribly. I think she had Bugs.

Eryn stopped for hers today and hooped for over a minute several times outside. She was very good. (Of course she's half my weight and age.) Then when we came in, she added Lil Bugs and kept going. Even using three different sized hoops she could make it go round four or five times. She said she learned watching youtube videos.

If I knew what I was doing, I might get a good workout with it. To bad I'm not closer to Louisville. I could stop at Polesque!

sock monkeys, stairs, and divas

Yesterday, was the Lung Association Stair climb at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre.

Lyd stopped here and then we went and picked up Bonnie and Megan. Megan was home from Kentucky for vacation. One reason she chose this weekend was the stair climb.

We arrived 45 minutes early. No traffic or lead foot? Not sure which. We did a warm up walk around the arena, hung out and stretched. Lydia took an unflattering pix of me doing squats.

We went as a team, but didn't sign up as a team. Our name was "Dick’s Darlin’ Divas" after Lyd's dad Dick. We also had a picture of my brother Henry in the tribute section. I was hoping to send one in of my dad but couldn't find one in the time aloted. Next year, I'll be prepared.

We wore candy colored tank tops which I added fun fur trim that I knitted. The tieras were removed before climbing.

Finally it started. First the firefighters, some in full gear. Then some members of the air force. Then the elite group that were doing it competitively. Then the normal people. The sock monkey mascot didn't climb.

Last year Lyd hadn't trained because her dad was so sick (he died a week before the event) so she did half plus the finishing flight in 18:38. This year she did the whole thing, with a little help from a posse of new friends and family. Her time: 26:48.

Megan, cleaned our clocks again at 12:32 . Two minutes quicker than last year (14:19). Bonnie beat me again at 16:31 (18:01 LY) after a year of medical issues and not working out as much. And I brought up my familiar place in the rear the rear at 16.37 (18:46 LY).

an izzy walk

Every Friday I walk with my friend Betsy. This week she is watching her grandpuppies, and we took Izzy along. We cut the walk a bit short because it's so warm out and Izzy was HOT. After all, she's still wearing a fur coat!

I needed that walk. We're going to the local Irish pub for some fish 'n chips tonight. They have them every Friday during lent. The rest of the year it's one Friday a month.

Since I have blood work Thursday, and a doctors appointment Friday, it's probably not the best idea, but oh well. I'm going anyway.

really? credit cards?

The soda machine in the gym at school takes credit cards. Stopped me dead in my tracks and searching for a camera. The phone had to do.

a rock in my head

remember my fall three weeks ago walking the dog? This rock fell out of my head today. Now I really look like I have a bullet hole!

first and last place

Today was the St. Pat's 5k before the Allentown St. Patty's Day parade. Check in was at at Muhlenberg College's Memorial Hall. I haven't been there since the late seventies. Billy Joel and I were much younger then.

The race route was 1.5 times the parade route. Basically a rectangle and a half. When we past the finish line the first time the runners were coming in. It was just after 18 minutes.  We still had the big loop to do. Bonnie wasn't registered but walked, she just didn't cross the finish. At the end we were leap frogging with some run/walkers, but they ran to cross the finish. So I was the only walker. I came in first in my division. And last overall. Oh well. The one cop said to me, even the last person in the class at medical school, exits a doctor. Nice analogy.

As you can see they added a "O" to everyone's name. Even if you were a "Mc", "Mac" or "O". So O'Neil Became O'O'Neil.

My friend Pam Lott's said "Pam O'Lott". Kind of sounds like Camelot when you say it. Or maybe Spam A Lot. She was running in a kilt from Party City, with her group the Foxy Ladies. I did their logo several years ago. Today was her birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY) Even her son braved wearing a kilt. She invited the team and Bonnie and I over for a little celebration and to meet the newest members of the family—Trixie and Sadie—the chickens.

As you can see, my head is healing nicely. The big ugly multi-level scab came off on Friday. I think the big one in the center was the deepest, and It will be there a while. My elbows are still also banged up.

men in skirts

Some days it just pays to walk. The views are incredible. Today for instance. It's St. Patty's Day and our local Irish shoppe was having a "Best Legs in Kilts" contest.

Downtown, or as my mom would say uptown, was awash in green. People were arriving for the leg contest, the scavenger hunt, the parade, and maybe even the Glengarry Bouys concert tonight.

We drove over town because Bonnie had an appointment at one, and parked at the city center. We headed out Church, up Maple or was it Elm to Fairview and around Liberty High School. At the corner of Linden and Elizabeth Bonnie finally reached Nome on the Idita Walk. We high Fived and kept going down Elizabeth to Main, thru Moravian, and down Monocacy. As we were headed toward the historic district you could hear the bagpipes.

We took the trail from the historic quarter, behind the hotel, and around the smitty to Main Street. At Donegal Square we found both the pipers and the men in kilts. Some were fine. Other, well not so much so.

Coming up Main Street we also found this Miles For Mules "Starry Night" sculpture decked out for the holiday.

After watching the men be cheesy, we went to Hello Burrito for lunch. We were four miles+ into the walk. The food was very good but they use flour tortillas. Oops. They were not busy. They are next to the old Boyd theatre. Probably not a good location.

They had some really cool painted tables. Yes I took pixs of them all.

After lunch we headed up Broad to Linden, back Market, down Center, and back to city hall for the car.

Tomorrow is the St. Pat's 5K. We'll have to kick asphalt to finish in the aloted time. Don't want the to hold the parade for us!

relieved

My friend Angel forwarded me a portion of an email this morning (translated from French, no doubt) from Michèl. We'll be doing the One Day Hike together.

"Oh and plant a bug in Gayle's ear that I will most likely need to reduce it down to the half-walk. Work is killing me and I have done no training. NONE. I don't even know how I will make the half!"

Since he's her friend, I asked if he'd back out totally. She replied "He's not the back-out type".

So it's a go. And I'm relieved that it's (more than likely) only 50K. 30ish miles I'm confident I can do. I haven't trained really well, but I've walked a lot and adrenaline will kick in. It's not like the 3-Day where you do and then do it tomorrow and again the next day. I can channel that energy. And I hear Michèl is very competitive.

I still wonder about where I'm meeting him, where we are sleeping when we are done, and how the heck will I gt back to my car. I'm sure this will work itself out. Angel travels the globe with him without incident. Trust. It's hard for me. But I'll do it.

walk and lunch in the park

It's a nice day again. Not sunny but nice. I didn't want to be caged in the "bird house" one minute longer. I emailed my colleague. She was "in" too. So we hopped in the car and went for lunch and a walk in the park.

First stop. The Lebanese Deli. She ordered falafal and I ordered a roasted veggie wrap with feta and garlic paste. Then we headed next door to the Forks Township Community Park, ate our lunch and watched all the little ones playing. It was relaxing.

We easily found the walking path that I thought was a mile. According to the Forks website it's 9/10. Close enough.

Time to get back to reality, and work.

a beautiful weekend

I had the weather on my computer set for Nome, Alaska. It is -22 today as we "await" Bonnie's arrival.  Back at home it's 58. Home is better.

This weekend we concentrated on training for our upcoming 10K, 5K and the stair climb. We also wanted to get Bonnie closer to Nome. She's only 75 miles away after this weekend!

Today we left my house, headed out Cherokee to Brighton, over the Hill-to-Hill Bridge and I gave her these choices: Fahy or Mini Trail Bridges. She Took the Fahy. So we went up Second Ave. to Prospect, past West Side Moravian, up Third to Union Blvd, and back Conestoga.  Up spring, thru the "pee-pee" tunnel and the blacksmith's grounds. Then up the stairs thru Zinzendorf Plaza.  As we headed up Main, Bonnie noticed the Season's was open and we went in and tasted oils, vinegars and salts. Bonnie bought two and I carried them home. Weight training.  We then headed up Broad, down High and Church and finally over the bridge. When we started we were three or four blocks away!

Back on the south side we went down the ramp, out Adams and caught the Greenway. Went out Graham Place and picked up Broadway, headed way up Ontario, down Sioux and home. Total mileage 5.5+ and 120 minutes.

After passing so many markers today, we decided to do all of the history trails this summer. I hope I can get the audio files unzipped. Then I'll need to find an iPod to put them on.

Next weekend is the St. Patty's Day 5K, so I hopped into the car and went to the dollar store. I wanted the Dr. Suess type hats, but Pat told me I'd carry it. Ended up buying dilly boppers. Bonnie's say "Kiss Me I'm Irish." Also stopped at Piggie Park for my Diamond Diva gear. More pink!

Speaking of Divas, I need to get tank tops and start putting the edging on for the stair climb. I have to do five. I'm going to use fun fur yarn and crochet strings. Maybe two or three rows long. I need to also go to Party City and get tiaras to wear. Our team is Dicks Darling Diva's. We're named for Lydia's dad. I also need to dig out pictures of Dick, Henry and Dad to send in for the tribute walk.

Back to walking. Yesterday we did a disappointing 3.75 miles in 90 minutes. But it was almost all hills. Since I don't have time to do 30 miles practice walks, I add lots of hills. Think it might be good for my endurance. I have no science to back it up, but that 100K is in 6 weeks. Gotta try something.

It was a great weekend for walking and Bonnie's totals zoomed up this weekend 210 minutes!

the perils and pitalls of dog walking

All of my walks this week have been with Lyd's dog Adonis. We are dog-sitting while she is in Florida.

Pretty much four times a day, for about 20 minutes. He'd go further and so would I if I knew a safe route. One without other dogs. Adonis hates other dogs. He picks fights with them.

Because of this, day two didn't go so well. Actually, it went horrible.

We walked first thing in the morning, and then came home. No issues. Then again, about 10:30-11:00. I needed to leave for work after lunch. Since I have a very safe and secure, or so I thought, route I decided to do it backwards. We headed down the hill to Broadway. We stopped to wait for traffic. I had him on a short leash and he was on my left. It's finally time to go, and we cross. I guess I walked ahead of him because somehow he went behind me and started walking on my right, quickly, and pulled me over face first into Broadway.  A very busy street. Thank goodness I left plenty of room so the cars could stop. I almost lost the leash. He comes back and waits for me.

Got up, dusted myself off, and we proceeded onward.

We're back at Broadway and Clewell, and cross the street again, going past the shopping center parking lot. We cross Itaska. I'm walking to go up the hill, and he sees a pitbull (and owner) coming out Itaska and pulls me over, face first into a pile of gravel near the factories the factories. My glasses are a twisted ruin. My face is dripping blood, and he is still pulling trying to get to the damn pit. I finally pull myself up, grab his choke collar and pull with the strength I have left. He doesn't care a rats butt about me. So much for loyality.

Pit is finally gone, I get up, glasses in hand and start walking again. Up Clewell to Sioux, and then down Bishopthorpe. We can't walk the short route out Itaska. Too many dogs.

I clean up, change, and head to work. First stop. The optician.

I gave them the pieces of my glasses and they were able to put them back together. I ordered a new lens. One has a huge gash it in. I can only imagine how my glasses saved my eyes during the fall.

Meet some former students in the hall who tell me my head is still bleeding. They take me to the health center, where she cleans me up again. Puts on Steri Stipes. Tells me I probably should have had stitches. Lack of insurance, means all first aid must be done at CVS. They don't have stitches there. I'll have a scar.

Today, I have an ugly forehead and raccoon eyes.  Yesterday one was swollen shut. The kids in my class tell me I broke my nose.

dave has arrived in "nome"

We were all asleep Thursday morning when Dave arrived in Nome. He left this message and picture: "Arrived 6:01am EST, 2:01 AM AK time. It's dark and no one around to meet me. From the photo you can tell I am tired and need a shower & shave. I usually don't look too happy at 2am."

He came in a day early. Had we known he was so close we would have waited up for him.

Only Bonnie is left to arrive. Maybe she will arrive with the posse of sled dogs.

almost everyone has arrived in "nome"!

Update on the Idita-walk.

Megan was the latest to "arrive" Monday morning, about 8:25 (AST). Just before sunrise. It was still a little dark, with a light snow, and a balmy 5 degrees. She took this picture later in the day and posted it to Facebook. Why didn't I think of that?

Lydia arrived Sunday about the same time and it was a bit colder, -17. It got up to abou -2 that day.

Kathy arrived on Saturday. It was light out, but I can't remember what time. We only get about 9 hours of daylight here in Nome.

So we are "sitting around" the Nome Nugget Inn, right at the finish line, waiting for Dave and Bonnie. Kathy brought more hot chocolate. Megan brought some Baileys. Hopefully we don't drink too much that we end up falling into the Bering Sea!

training for the stairclimb

My friend Baron posted this pix on her facebook page yesterday. I have no idea where she got it from, but I think it's funny.

Not doing as many steps as I should. I need to kick it into high gear. The stair climb is in 23 days. I also have a doctors appointment about then.  I'd like her to be happy when I get on the scale. And like the air-head I am, I made a tax appointment for the same day as the stair climb. Must change that today!

Kathy is close to "nome" and will be joining me at the finish line soon. Lydia and David both have about 200 miles to go. Dave was at 815 yesterday, which according to the checkpoints puts him past Koyuk. Maybe they will meet each other and finish together?

No walking for me on today or Saturday. Today I'll be climbing stairs for an hour or so. Saturday I have an all-day Girl Scout Event. I'll be itching to go out Sunday!

I also need to get back on the stick about eating. Now that there isn't a weigh-in hanging over my head I'm slipping back into my old habits. Snacking at night, soda, candy. Birch beer and salty pretzels at Bingo. It. Must. Stop. Now.

Considering Weight Watchers again. The whole accountability thing.