walking thru christmas lights

My walking streak broke on Monday. It did not surprise me. Work days are tough. Add to that all the rain we had this week and little has gotten done. But I am not complaining. I don't have to shovel it.

I will not make my goals this week. Oh well. Such is life.

Tuesday I didn't walk much at all except at school. I was up to my elbows in grading. Three classes will close soon.

Wednesday was a work day but I planned to go to the Holiday Lights at the zoo after work with Angel's family. It was an adventure. I went right after work, she's less than two miles from campus. Somehow I invited myself for dinner. It was delicious. then off we went.

We left in two cars, and dropped mine at the Hellertown Park and Ride. No need to go all the way back to Easton. Then I hopped into their car and we headed to Schnecksville. And drove right past Game Preserve Road. Ultimately Angel had to launch the GPS on her phone. When we turned onto Game Preserve Road, she turned it off. I guess she shouldn't have. We drove past the entrance. Clearly the zoo is used during the day and nobody thought to put lights on the signs.

Turning into the driveway we were greeted by trees covered in lights. But it wasn't like lights in the Parkway. Just a little bit now and then. And the view from the top of the hill was great. We finally arrived at the zoo, but not until we made one last wrong turn.

I was glad I brought my winter coat. It was cold. The zoo is a circle so you can't get lost. The child kept looking for the animals. As we walked we rained on  with glitter lights. It was cool.

 We made gingerbread cookies, built an igloo from foam cubes and met the Grinch. Max wasn't there.

As a Hendricks, my knees don't work right. At some point in time I'll probably have to get new ones. When the Grinch invited us in his cave, the child wasn't me to come. Sure! Why not? I bent over and squatted and my knees didn't work. I couldn't move my legs. An hour in the cold played havoc on them. I could have gotten on the ground and crawled in, but I had new-to-me trousers on. Finally I got in. Of course, then I had to get out. I ended up dropping to the ground.

Then there are these giant snow globes. I managed to go in. I even managed to stand up. But when I left, I stuck one leg out and somehow lost my balance and fell. Thankfully the snow globe held me up. But too much air came out as I struggled to get up so they needed to help the child out. Note to self: stay out of real or imagined caves and blow ups.

When it was over I visited Santa and the Mrs. (Sorry Bud. Next week, promise.) The child didn't. She talks to people in costume. She wanted to do the loop again, but mom said no. It was 8:15 on a school night.

Yesterday, minimal walking. I was a bit sore from the walk. But mostly, I was grading. Today Betsy and I did our Friday walk.