i made it up the hill

Tuesdays and Thursdays are tough days to get a walk in. I have about two hours of work each morning before work. Plus a walk. Depending on the work load the walk falls to the ways side.

But now it is light in the morning so I can get out much earlier. Now that I am resolved to do just that. The day I bought the generic Mucinex (Friday?), I tried to go up the Wyandotte street hill. I only made it to Itaska. And I was exhausted. My lungs and nose were still full of crud.

Today I walked up Fiot to Wyandotte, down Ontario, and back up Wyandotte to Sassafrass and only stopped one at Itaska. Plus, at the top of the hill (well mid-point actually) when I went to turn down for home, I was tired but not out of breath. Nor was I exhausted. Now if they'd just make the stuff without Tylenol in it, it would be perfect. (I didn't have pain or fever. Just crud.)

It was barely two miles, but even at a reduced pace, it was aerobic because of significant elevation changes.

Yesterday I didn't walk at all. I drove to Newark at 5 and didn't get home till 10:30, and then got stuck in a traffic jam on Rt. 22.  Yeah, it was a sit in the car type of day.

Tomorrow I'm playing hokey from work and school and going to see Kinky Boots with Bonnie and Megan in NYC
.

easter sunday on the trail.

No I didn't go to church. I decided I should stop being a hypocrite a couple years ago. Now if I could just embrace the A-word.

So instead I went for a walk. I was planning on going alone and thinking about places that were natural, rather than urban, when I received a email from Angel. "Wanna walk?" She suggested picking me up and going a little south. We chose Upper Saucon Park and the trail to Coopersburg.

This is the trail that starts in Hellertown. Soon it will end in Quakertown. And over time go all the way to Philly. Cool. It's an effort to connect existing trails to each other, so it's not going to have an umbrella name like the D&L.

At upper Saucon Park the actual trail ends, and the direct you down thru the park, under the road, then around the library and ball fields. You pick up the trail there.  If you turn around and look, the stop point is about 500 feet behind you filled with trees and rocks. The "detour" is maybe a half mile.

I thought it was 1.5 miles to Coopersburg Living Memorial Park. Turns out it's two.

 On the way we saw what we thought were turkey hens. And they were loud. On the way back I saw some others I thought were guinea fowl. So maybe they all are. Or not. But guinea fowl are loud mouths. Also camera shy. Pull out a camera and they run. (Also saw 2 jays, 1 cardinal, white geese and ducks)

We arrived at the entrance for the Living Memorial park and it looked like the trail continued. So maybe another piece is done. Or not. Will check it out another day. We head into the park for the water fountain and bathroom and they are closed. Why are the bathrooms always closed? I considered the woods when I saw Giant in the distance. Angel, do you want to walk to Giant. We did. Round trip it added about a 1/2 mile to the walk. In all, we did about 5.5 miles. (Angel posted the top photo from Giant on Instagram with a caption that said "Someone needed to use the potty". Hopefully, people think the tween was with us.)

When we got back to the car Angel looked at the clock and said she was running late. She only had 1.5 left before she needed to leave for Easter Dinner. She still had to take me home, then drive to Easton, shower, change and pick up the family. It was going to be tight.

It felt good to be out and walking in the woods. It felt good to be out of the pseudo city. It felt good to almost be able to breathe again. Maybe I'm finally near the end of this dang cold.

good news. bad news.

This week offers both good news and bad news.

First the good news. I got my sick fat butt out everyday to walk.

The bad news. It wasn't enough. And the weather was good. I failed at spring break.

Wednesday I did the Fountain Hill circuit. Findlay street nearly killed me with this cold. But I didn't stop, so that's good. As I walked past the elementary school the kids were still there, playing. Moms were there too. It was nice.

There was also lots of activity at the Stanley Avenue playground. Kids playing hoops, and baseball, and screaming little ones on the play equipment. Clearly the children in my neighborhood haven't gotten the stay inside, get fat, and play video games memo. There was one swing left, but I didn't stay long. My heart wasn't into it. I headed out Stanley, then went up to Jeter, and down the stairs to Bishopthorpe and headed home.

Thursday I worked. So I walked back and forth. It was 5:45 by the time I left and crossing Wyandotte was horrible. As I was waiting this little orange car passed me. It was Eryn. And she didn't stop to let me cross. I set her a text. While walking. How do people do that? It was hard!

I also saw the naked boy in the window, playing in his yard. But that's another post. 

Friday I grabbed my grocery bag and headed to CVS and Aharts. I took this globe-hopping bag from Djibouti (Horn of Africa) with me. It has been more places than I will ever get to. It's huge. I have one a similar size from Marseille, France.  Angel brings them from her adventure traveling. I usually save these bags for car trips because they get heavy, quick. But the Djibouti bag had never seen south Bethlehem, so it went. First stop was the market. Then CVS.

I also finally buckled down and bought some Mucinex. This cold just won't go away. Two weeks of snot and crud is enough. I'm going to see Kinky Boots next Wednesday. Nobody in the theatre, including me, wants to hear me hack out a lung like my daddy during the show. Why did I take a pix of the box? Because there is no box! It's just a blister pack with the cards of pills in it. It takes a huge amount of space in the medicine cabinet. The real brand was on sale, and it was in a box. But with my health insurance I get 20% off CVS brand, plus I had a $4 coupon. I'll get over not having a real box.

After CVS I headed up the hill towards New Bethany. It went okay, so I got cocky and decided I could walk up Wyandotte. Wrong. By the time I reached Itaska I was the living dead.  But to my credit, I turned and went home Itaska. I was not stupid enough to go the rest of the way up the hill.

Today I walked on the art trail in Easton. One of the things on my to-do list for spring break—it was huge—was to finish the Easton directions and I had no check point. I texted Angel to see if she was working and wanted to walk, since she lives in Easton. Alas, she was working so I went alone.

This is a great trail, and now it has a beautiful parking lot with spaces drawn and traffic arrows. It does not have a port-o-potty. That's bad news for me.

I did not walk the whole trail. Just went as far as Bushkill Drive. I didn't go into town. I picked three spots for a check point, and my gut starts making noises. The sign above me on the highway said "13th Street 1/2 mile". I know what that grumbling means. I ate something I shouldn't have before walking. I started to think and new the culprit. Never drink milk before walking. Any other time is is fine. That goes for eggs too. Shit. Where is the closest bathroom?

Well there is none. My phone was dead.  I was tempted to go to Angel's house. Someone might have been home. But what if they weren't I would have wasted precious time. Instead of dealing with the lights on Northampton, I headed out the back way towards 25th and went to the Sheets. With seconds to spare.

I went back to the car and headed to pick up my niece. It's Saturday so I'm doing the mom carpool again. (real mom works every weekend.) I'm driving down 33 and the Mucinex kicks in. All the toxins in my body screaming I want out, and I only have one tissue available. Shit.

Again, I drive and try not to have my body implode on me. I pulled off the exit, rummaged thru the glove box and found napkins. For the first time in two weeks I could breath.

I haven't decided where my Easter Sunday walk will be.

walking to zac

Because it is spring break, I get to walk to my job at ZAC, a local arts center. (Don't try to keep up with my jobs. Even I can't keep them straight!) It's 1.3 miles to work so I am always looking for ways to stretch it out to two.

Today I took some paths I never take and found this steel arching sculpture behind Chandler Hall. (The one with 44 chimneys.).  Someone petite could walk under it.

I normally don't take a lunch break, I take healthier snacks—fruit, cheese, nuts—and just nibble at my desk. But since I knew I didn't need to dash I took a break today and walked around the block. Sort of.

That's when I noticed this sculpture. Or is it a giant game of pick up sticks? I have no idea. But the kids in my neighborhood would be climbing all over it. Heck, I wanted to climb it. I had to go back after work to take the picture since I left empty handed.

At the end of the workday I walked back home. For a Tuesday it was a lot, but did not meet my minimum for for this week.

a walk on the north side

It's spring break this week. I am determined not only to walk every day, but a specified distance. I weighed myself yesterday. I need to get this growing butt in gear.

I had a to-do list yesterday. I was looking at it to see which items I could do on foot. There really weren't any. However, one was to pick up the Easter candy at the church. I forgot last week—it wasn't on the list— and the roomie keeps reminding me. Then she got a call from the church.

So the decision was made. I'd park in front of the church and walk on the north side. Different scenery. I began in Moravian College and then went down Monocacy street, Old York Road and up the ramp thru the historic district. Then it was out Church to Center, and back Center.

One thing that I noticed was a fountain in the garden area. One side is a unicorn, and the other side is the start of Bethlehem.

I also took pixs of the bridge construction. Notice the left side. There is no side.

And finally, this lone mosaic in the brick sidewalk.

 I was trying to decide if I should go out Laurel, Elizabeth Avenue or Washington Avenue to go back tot he church. But the decision was made for me. Laurel doesn't go thru to Center. Steel Field is is the way. Specifically the tennis courts. Ultimately, Elizabeth won.

I got the candy and headed home. Yes, ours was the last picked up.

Today I am walking to work. Hurray. No paying to park.

what happened to spring?

I went to take my lazy butt out for a walk and grabbed a light jacket. I came right back in the house. What happened to spring?

The weather people are forecasting snow. They might be right. It's damp and cold. I didn't even unbutton my coat till the home stretch.

Today I did the south Bethlehem volkssport walk. I had to take the detour notice down to the Comfort Suites and put it in the book. I was hoping nobody had walked yet. But of course they did. And to make matters worse it was the cranky volkssporter. I often get long letters int he mail with her start cards complaining about things. Boy will I get an eyeful this time.  Bet she did north Bethlehem also. Oh, another letter. Can't wait. I'll be taking that notice over sometime this week.

And of course I had to make a stop at the supermarket. This time it was for Sharon. I need to get one of those old-lady carts. Groceries get heavy.

Since it was pretty much the same old walk, I was struggling for a photo opp. Then I came actross these fellows at the 5 points. They are a good three, four feet high. Wonder if they'll still be there tomorrow.

At the five points I was waiting to cross the street and there was a mom and two little ones. The boy wanted to cross, and she told him he had to wait for the white man on the sign. That way he knows it's safe. The sign changes, we all go to cross and a dumb-ass cuts the corner at about 40 mph. We stop on a dime, let him pass and continue on. When I last saw them she was trying to explain to the child that normally that the white man signal means it really is safe to cross and the car was being bad.

It's so rare in south Bethlehem to see parents teaching the kids to cross the street, that I hated to see this one opportunity turn sour.

trexler park bird count

Yesterday was crazy. I ran all day.

First, I picked up the teen and tween and took them to Girl Scouts in South Whitehall, then off to the Comfort Suites to fix the Volkssport directions. Then I came home to wait till I could pick up the girls again. While I was there I made a double large batch of brownies for the shelter dinner.

After gathering my children, we went to get burgers for lunch. Then it was off to Trexler Park to walk.

In all the times I've gone there, I never went to the pond. But there was a swan, so we went.  The swans are the impetus for the wildlife count that ultimately happen.

At one point the girls walked up the hill backwards. This is right after the spring house, which we explored thoroughly.

We did all three loops including the one above General Harry. It was the day before spring arrives and the wildlife was, wild. Everyone was doing their mating calls.

We saw 1 swan--gender unknown, 1 red tailed hawk, a dozen mallards--mostly males, 4 male cardinals, 3 male blue jays, more robins --some super fat--than you could count, and spastic squirrels.

Afterwards we went back to my house and waited until it was time to go to the cookie booth sale. We cut the brownies I made, and the girls did a quality control check. They passed. I didn't burn them!

After dropping off the girls, it was off to the shelter to cook dinner. Last night Elliot came to visit. 130 pounds cuteness and slobber. The ladies loved him.

This was my most significant walk for the week. Otherwise it was pretty dismal. It's spring break week. My goal is to walk every day. No excuses.

detours

Today I headed out early. The Fahy (New Street) bridge is receiving a 2-year facelift and there are poop loads of pedestrian detour signs. I decided to 1) check them out and see where they go and 2) find out if they impact the Bethlehem Volkssport walks.

I headed out Broadway, and up Wyandotte and across the bridge, then down the steps. From the bridge I could see there were detour signs on Sand Island. I'm thinking, shoot. I'm going to need to reroute this whole Bethlehem walk.

I headed to Sand Island first. The signs there said "Park" detour. Interesting. The detour went down the D&L pink gravel path. Interesting, because the road was open. I went down the road. The detour joined the road at the other side of the playground.

By this time I could see the bridge. It has that fish-nets like webbing under it to catch debris.  When I arrived at the bridge the signs stopped. Then I noticed it. They pulled down the stairs from hell.

(I don't know if you are familiar with them, but they are narrow and steep. Up is difficult. Down is scary. It's a two handrail trip.)

Happy walker dance.

This elaborate pedestrian detour is for the stairs on the bridge. So many questions answered.

I follow the detour out, and arrived at the bridge. We are now walking on the wrong side of the road. Not only are the stairs gone, but the temporary sidewalk AND the permanent sidewalk. Those fences are new. I bet they stay. They are now on both sides.

Bottom line no rerouting on the north side.

The south side has a small detour so that people don't walk under the bridge. It adds two blocks to the route. Not bad. No rerouting there either.

Second happy walker dance.

When I went out I wanted to be out an hour. I had done nearly five miles and two hours. I was tired. Clearly, I am not 100% yet.

get out lehigh valley —bethlehem steel edition

Today is better. I slept.

I was determined to get out of bed and take a real walk today. And I did!

I was registered for the Get Out Lehigh Valley Greenway walk and Steel tour. It began at 10 at the skate park. These people always ran late so I didn't leave the house till 9:50. Initially, I was going to leave at 10, and meet them at New Street, then walk to the skate park, do the Steel tour, and return home. But at the last minute I decided to meet them at the start. I never realized how small that lot is. It was packed! I was one of the lucky few that got a parking space.

They began, as they always do with a group photo. It was about half the group. People were still coming. Even after we left. By the time I reached New Street, we were spread out about 3 blocks.

There was a bit of a lecture at the turn around and then we headed back to the skatepark. With another group pix at the Chinese pavilion.

I didn't really take any pixs. This is my regular walking territory. Nothing changes quickly. They have planted some trees on the Greenway, including cherry trees. They were starting to bloom.

Then we had a choice of walking over to ArtsQuest or moving the car. Most people moved the car. Including me. That lot is so small, the skaters need a place to park.

There was at least a half hour to wait before the movie started. Yes, this walk came with a movie on Bethlehem and The Steel. Dave Fry was doing a children's P's and Q's concert in the lobby of ArtsQuest so the wait wasn't horrible. I decided not to refill my water bottle with warm water. My mouth tastes like crap. I wanted ice. So I went to the snack bar and bought a large glass of ice, to which they added a minimal amount of soda. Clearly I am not the only person to make this request. After drinking the bit of soda, I refilled my metal water bottle with the ice, and then water from the fountain. Perfect solution. A little sugar, and icy cold water.

The movie was a half-hour or so. Wow was it one-sided. Bethlehem sounds like Nirvana, and The Steel could do no wrong. Until they did. They didn't mention any labor unrest until the late 50s, because that worked into the "plot". Of course the laborers striking opened the door to cheap labor and foreign imports and the decline of The Steel. Honestly things are never THAT simple.  (Though I didn't know they lost the bid for the World Trade Centers—that went foreign. Just wondering if it would still be standing with Bethlehem Steel....) Again, I was wishing I could ask my dad his opinion.

Our tour guide wearing Dad's hard hat. She says she never complains about the heat doing tours,
because Dad will say, it's not hot. You've never experienced hot.

Then it was time to walk again. It was an HBI tour, not a Steel Archives tour. So we pretty much did the mile loop on the redeveloped roads. I was a little disappointed. She was knowledgeable and peppered the presentation with Dad stories.

running after money

Bottom line. I did no exercise this week. None. Nada. This post should end there, but it won't. Because y'all know I love to blather on.

It has been a spectacular week weather wise.  At times it went up to the 80s. I just didn't care.

I think I might have walked on Sunday. But I don't remember. The week is a blur.

Monday I got up and started out grand. I put out sun tea for the first time. It was downhill from there. My voice disappeared and I started to cough. Like daddy used to cough. You remember when you thought he was going to hurl a lung across the room. But I didn't feel sick. I went to work. One of my colleagues had just gotten over the norovirus and all that talk about puking and pooping maid me queasy. I ate little.

Then it was off to class. And I had to lecture. Splendid.

Tuesday I got up and the cough was worse. I had almost no voice. I was still blaming it on spring, even though it's two weeks away. I went to class. I didn't lecture. They had a project to work on. I stayed at my desk, and told them I'd only come if they asked. I think I'm getting sick.

Wednesday was tax day. Sharon was taking me to the Hellertown diner for breakfast. I had three large beverages and picked at my omelet. I took a pseudo nap before work. It's official. I'm sick. But I went to class. Again, they need to come to me.

I didn't sleep Wednesday night, between constant drinking, peeing, hacking out a lung, and blowing my nose I was up most of the night. The OTC drugs were not working.

I was exhausted but felt better in the morning. By the time it was time to leave for work, I was feeling almost human. And I saw my large format poster in the lobby of the theatre, so that made me feel even better. I walked a little. By that I mean I took the convoluted route from the parking deck to the office.  Because going from point A to point B is just not my style.

(Park on second floor, up stairs to theatre entrance, left and down those stars, across the whole building and then down to first floor on those stairs. It's a giant zig-zag. Then thru the courtyard, rather than Packer Ave.) In reality, it probably only adds a block to the trip, but I take what I can get. I do the reverse going back to the car.

I ate a little of Wednesdays omelet for breakfast and hadn't eaten anything all day. Still wasn't hungry. (I'd like this diet if it didn't include hacking out a lung.) When I arrived at school I decided to go to the bookstore and get pretzels and ginger ale. Sick people food. I looked in my pocket and I had four dollars. That should be plenty for such a grand meal. As I went to put it back in my pocket it blew out of my hand. Then each of the dollars blew a different direction. I'm running thru the parking lot at NCC trying to grab my money. Since my hip is still recovering from last weekend, getting up and down was an issue and they kept getting further away.

There is more than half a bag of pretzels left.

I felt fairly well by the end of the day. But the minute I went to bed all symptons — but the feeling of being dehydrated — returned.

Another sleepless night.

what a week

And I don't have a single picture.

Where to begin? I guess with the beginning. Sunday.

The fun part of the day was posted in an earlier thread. Sunday's, around 4, I take my sister back to the north side. We needed groceries, so I thought I'd just go then. My roomie had other plans. (Basically because she didn't want her twin to go to the store.) No. Don't go to Giant today. We're going tomorrow morning. I need my exercise. (One trip around a big box store is "exercise".)

So I caved and didn't go. But we needed one thing before then. I decided to stop at Aharts.  Then I decided to walk up and down the aisles because...well...I was procrastinating going home. As I get near the ice cream coolers, something felt slick underfoot. And down I went. In slow motion. I landed on my left hip.

Not a soul around. I tried to get up. It was slippery. Like oil. Still nobody. I crawled to the ice cream counter to grab the door handle. I didn't get up right away. As soon as I applied pressure to my left him, it hurt. Like hell. I finally get up and waddle to the front. The hip was starting to move better. I report that there is something on the floor by ice cream and I fell. I refuse to fill out an incident report.  (Come on, I hate paperwork. My girl scouts only had one rule. I don't fill out paperwork. It worked.)

I go home. My hip hurts. I settle in to watch the Oscars. Then I tried to go upstairs. Baby steps. With both handrails. Did I break it? Shit. Should have filled out the paperwork.

Found some Aleve and it wasn't expired. Took it. By the time I went to bed, it was better. Stairs were still an issue. They were the next morning also. More Aleve.

Bonnie and I had walking plans at 8. When it was time to go it was pouring. We had eggs instead. I was just a little happy we couldn't go. I can't imagine the pain.

And I ended up going to Giant alone, because it was raining, and the roomie didn't want to go in the rain.  So I walked up and down the aisles, then around the perimeter of the store. Just clal me a power shopper. That buggy was moving.

Tuesday the hip was a bit better, but the roofer gave me bad news. During the storm about a week ago, the roof leaked. He was there to fix it. The tech came down off the roof and told me that my 110 year old roof was declining. At some point within the next 10 years it will fail. Goodie. They just make quality stuff anymore. Oh, and by the way, my chimney is failing now. It's just a matter of time before it falls down. He took pixs.

Next day there is a man staring at my house. It's the boss-roofer. Yep. Chimney is in bad shape. He'll send me a quote with pixs. Just under $4k for the things listed on the contract. $50/hr plus materials for surprises. Swell. It's only 110 years old. Crappy craftsmanship. Should last at least two centuries, right?

Didn't walk the rest of the week until today. Again, Bonnie and I walked together. This time we walked in Fountain Hill, with an exciting stop at the money machine for the roomie. We like to live large.

Later, the excitement continues. My almost 14-year old niece is in Beauty and the Beast. We're going to go see it. A middle school musical. Can't wait...