The wacky weather and a knee injury have my walking schedule off. I wouldn't go first thing in the morning — my preference — because -2 just hurts the skin. Even though that much skin would be not exposed. But then life gets in the way and morning turns into afternoon, and suddenly it's dark. Hopefully, with school stating next week I'll no longer have the "you're not working can you drive me ...." interruptions. I hate being Uber. I need to learn to say no.
I have been dog walking, a few Walk At Home style videos, and taking elaborate routes around stores when I'm Ubering. We divide chores and I take the furthest corner or store in the strip mall, and then take the furthest route to get there. Even if the item needed is two aisles away, I will go the opposite direction to get there.
In addition my knee still hurt like heck. I was afraid of falling again on black ice.
Saturday I layed on the couch for four hours with my leg up and wrapped in a blankie. I read a trashy dime store crime novel. It was heaven.
Sunday morning I finished the novel and then felt guilty for being a slug. I decided to go to the Westgate Mall—no ice inside—and mall walk. The LV Mall would be more inviting, but dead malls have their benefits: No people, no temptations, and this one goes uphill. It's a shame, the owners poured a lot of money into a remodel and still nothing.
I started at the Subway door and walked all the way to the old 7/11. Part of it was outside. That was a mistake. It was bitter cold. I came back and made a loop around Bon-Ton and repeated. This time I didn't quite go to the 7/11, I went and did a circle around the Rite-Aid, and then back around Bon-Ton. The next loop I did the Hallmark store, and stayed out of the liqour store. The last loop was a half and then I looped Weiss, before buying some groceries and headed home.
Monday it was warmer. It was 18 in the morning, and high 20s by the time the Uber was needed to take my sister to the doctor. By then the freezing rain had started. We stopped at CVS for her meds and I found a painted rock. We moved it to the senior high rise my sister lives in.
It was slippery when I took her home. We walked her to the door. I returned to the car and pulled out into Main Street and saw some "trash" in the street. I was about to say to Lydia that trash blew into the street, and she yells "Stop! There's a person in the street." She's out of the car before I'm fulling stopped. I'm shocked she didn't fall and crack her head open.
By the time I arrived she's talking to the lady and on the phone with 911. A man is walking across the street from the bank wearing a t-shirt in an ice-storm. He went back for a jacket and first aid kit. A physical therapist and her friend also showed up. Finally the parimedics came.
A half an hour and much more ice, then snow, we were headed home. I no longer felt like walking.
Tuesday morning I started my new teaching gig at Penn State Lehigh Valley. Another guaranteed walk plus two flights of stairs every Tuesday/Thursday morning.
Today, I was headed out after school, but again plans are foiled. I need to be to NCC by 2:30. Make I'll at least get a loop on the walking trail.
Winter sucks for a walker. I can't be afraid of falling. My knee is better, so no more excuses. Another arctic blast is on the way. That might means more mall walking. Also I will be signing up to the 52 Hike Challenge shortly. That will get my fat butt out at least once a week.
Then the Stone Soup Walk is Saturday. Pam might be coming. I might have someone to walk with.
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