i resisted the allure of donuts

 Did you see the news yesterday? Our local turkey farmers turned mega-developers have bought the land that will connect the D&L in Allentown with the D&L in Hanover Township. Be still my heart. Finally, you'll be able to get from point a to point b without a car. Of course it will be years before that rail-to-trail is done.

Today walk I knew would be a challenge. It snowed. It rain. It froze. It melted. It froze again. Sidewalks are not all bad, but corners are horrible.

I'm in Easton today, so I thought campus would be fairly good, and it was. But the streets around it were a mess. I decided that breaking my leg was not on the agenda today.

The post office is in the basement of Farinon.  I went down, mailed my packages, and went up to the second floor. I looped around and came back down. Out the front door towards Acopian. I skipped Hogg Hall because the porch is tile. Tile in winter is not good. In summer it's beautiful.

I reached Acopian and the sign in the window said "donuts and lutron". They were set up in the lobby. Handsome, thin, professional, young men offered me donuts. They weren't busy and had a lot left. But it wasn't noon yet. I went right past them and to the back staircase and up to the top (ground level is 3), around to the other end, and back down the 6 flights. Then it was back around and back up to the third. Walking past the donuts again! (photo credit)

I finished the loop around the quad and head out past the Arts Center toward Cattell Street. things turned ugly quick. I carefully made my way back to the "birds nest".

day 8 of 18. a birdie poo'd on me

I've been seriously walking for exercise about five years, maybe six. Never once did a birdie poo on me. Until today. In front of the Williams Center. I felt the wet and thought there's nothing dripping ... oh. Yuck. Sadly I can't wash my hair at work. I tried washing it off but my hair is still gross.

Today at lunchtime I walked down to the peace candle. Down and back is probably a generous mile. One way it's down hill, almost running. The other it is climbing up.

Took lots of pix. Easton does it nicely for Christmas and I didn't even go to Spring Garden street.

Therefore, today's post is a photo essay. Thankfully you won't see all the pixs I took.

Sign in front of the Williams Visual Arts building. That street is hard enough to cross yet along cross twice. The should have built those walkways like they do in NYC.

 Flower boxes downtown.

 I think these were in front of Pearly Bakers.

Hanukkah menorah at the base of the candle in Centre Square.  Now what would be really cool is the addition of Kwanza candles. (I know, I know, made-up holiday.)

Centre Square now has a Little Free Library. Also a Toy's for Tot's distribution point. How I looked for a box to put my toys in. And it was right there all along.

IF I had a LOT of money, and a large family, and really wanted to live in downtown Easton I'd buy a brownstone. I think they are beautiful. But totally impractical for a un-handy, lower middle class, single person.

Tomorrow I'll be back in Easton. Maybe I'll try Spring Garden street and head up towards the library.

day 3 of 18

Clearly I need to keep my camera in my coat pocket.

Another short walk, but I did go out. I mailed my Christmas cards, delivered some art work to Farinon, and took the scenic route back to my office.

I took all the leftover cookies and cupcakes to work today. They were gobbled up. Yeah. Less in my belly.

Today I've done 12 flights, but barely 6K steps.

Tomorrow I plan to do the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk. The box is out of instructions. Soon I'll have to deliver cards and cookies. I'll be sure to take my camera. The ethnic tree festival is at the start point!

devising a plan

I did go out at lunchtime and walked. It was probably just over a mile. But I did it. A couple houses were decorated for the holidays and it gave me an idea. You, dear readers, will hate it. But here goes.

Every day from now to New years I will take a walk, no matter how short. While I'm out I will take one picture of Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice ... ) decorations. Then post it along with the route. It will keep me accountable. It will make go out. Maybe, just maybe, it will get me back in the habit.

The pictures might be of beauty or kitchy. Inside or outside. But no creepy elves on shelves. Promise.

Today's photos were taken on College Hill in Easton.

This Christmas cactus is in my office window. It's been blooming since Thanksgiving.

it was a beautiful day yesterday

Yesterday was gorgeous. The perfect fall, or maybe spring, day. Warm but not hot. Clear blue sky and not a cloud in sight. Mama Nature doesn't make them much better.

Yesterday was an Easton work day. My friend Angel emailed me to ask if I was on campus and did I want to go for a walk. She works retail and is headed into a 5-day period of no sleep and dealing with rude people. I said sure.

She met me at her husbands office at 11:30. He had his lunch break at 12. We headed across campus, and then down the stairs by the monument. Then it was out third till we we off campus, crossed and came back up College Hill. When we arrived he was waiting by the car.

It felt really good. We might do it again Wednesday.

After I returned to work there was an email from the office manager that the President was coming over at 1. Be there. Any distraction is a good one. She's been there a year and a half and I've never even seen her. The reason for the visit? Last weekend was the 150th football game between rival schools and the capital Campaign kickoff in NYC. Our office has been working on these events for about a year. Two-thirds of the staff was in NYC over the weekend.

She arrived at one on the dot with two other people carrying champagne and plastic cups. On the table of the conference room was an edible arrangement. The cork was popped, the speech made, the champagne drunk and she said "where did the fruit come from"? Further investigation revealed it came from a Trustee. So we had champagne and fruit and chocolate at 1 pm.

I was in a terrific mood all afternoon. We should do that more often.

free beer, laziness, and swag

Another lazy week. I was hoping to hit my goals today but it's pouring. Maybe this afternoon.

Updates from last Sunday: There was quite a racquet on FB, Twitter and traditional media last week about the race.  Yesterday I received an email with a photo link (I'm looking down on them all) and an apology for the chaos last week. It also said I could use those free beer tickets this weekend at the festival. Problem is, I tossed them last week. Trash man comes on Tuesdays. Oh well.

Oh, it also gave us this little badge for our website.  That an a coupon won't get you a free beer.

Monday and Wednesday I was in Easton. So busy I could even take a little walk at lunch time. Lydia came over Wednesday night and we took the dog for a walk, then walked south Bethlehem. I were my slide sneakers without socks and paid for it. The tops of my toes were blistered by 2 miles. They were busted open by the time we got home.

Tuesday I walked to the north side and back. I tried to find every hill. Including up Wyandotte street. Good workout in an otherwise lackluster week.

Thursday I had planned on taking the scenic route to the dentist and back. Didn't work out that way. I was in one of my online classes working away when the voice from the yellow chair said "Don't you have a dentist appointment at 10?" It was 9:50. I took the car, then also drove to the farm market.

Thursday I also picked up my Walking Warriors swag at the college. A short sleeve tee shirt and a water bottle. I rinsed out the bottle and used it during class. I made the mistake of filling it ... twice. I was up all night. The tee is grey with walking warriors on the front and the logo on the back in orange. The water bottle is orange with the logo. This is the last week of the challenge. So far I haven't won anything.

Friday in the mail the first level prize arrived for the 165 challenge. Yep, another tee shirt. But this one is long sleeve and a really soft cotton. It will make a nice under shirt. The Tail On The Trail logo is on the back. They also sent a car magnet. I have one from last year. Neither will be on the car.



Yesterday I walked with Betsy in her surburban neighborhood.


Okay, maybe I'm not so lazy after all. But the reality is I'm at 72% of my weekly goal. 25% more is maybe 25K in steps. I might have done that walking the eight miles today. I see little chance of that happening.


Off to work while it's raining.

half the hills in easton.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/old-photos-pennsylvania/33064-hacketts-park-easton.html

Today we were supposed to walk at Columcille in Bangor, but just as the weather people predicted it was pouring this morning. There were quite a few people who wanted to do the walk.

We were supposed to start at 10. When I turned on the computer this morning there was a message from Angel. "Let me know when you leave for Columcille if you're online. I'm on the fence with the weather". I assured her the weather would clear up by nine. It didn't. In fact when I was prepping to leave it started to pour. After Angel's email, then Lyd called. Pretty much the same conversation. She opted for plan B. "Even if it stops raining it will be really muddy". Then I called Bonnie. They were out also. A text to Dawn confirmed she was bagging it.

Angels child is at camp for the weekend. There are not many opportunities for many childless activities with a 10-year-old in the house. Another email comes...

"Is there someplace Indoors we can go?" And another ...

"We could Mall walk. *cringe*". 

The rain had stopped and it looked like it might clear up. Since I had to go to the farm for eggs I suggested the Palmer rail trail. It's paved. Then Angel sweetened the pot with "You want to come over, get cauliflower and walk from here to Hackett park? Or I can make lunch..."

So that's what we did, Angel, her husband and I walked from her house to Hackett Park on the Wilson section of the rail trail. Like the old cliché it was up hill in "both directions". When we entered the park I had 30 stairs on my FitBit. And it was park-like with swings and pavilions and things. Not a field like when I entered from the rail trail. And there's a cemetery in the middle of the park. With a cannon. And obsolete plaques. Who knew? Wish I would have had my camera.

When we came back we left the trail and hiked up the hill to Northampton Street. I have always wanted to walk up that damn hill. Why? It's steep. But only earned us another seven flights.Then we worked our way back to Angel's house including a set of stairs. Who knew there were stairs on Northampton street? Total stair count—46!

We made lunch—huge salads with peanut-sesame dressing — and then I ate and ran.

First stop, the farm. I had to get a pot roast, a steak and eggs. I eat a lot of eggs. I also got some cherry tomatoes and some peppers. This is pretty much the end of the veggies. They also had pumpkins and squashes of all varieties. While I was shopping others came, and then the hay truck. Nobody yelled HAAAAAAAY! Shocking. But we were stock for a few minutes. Let me assure you that they hay truck driver had some driving skills.

Second stop ArtsQuest. We have a race tomorrow and today was packet pick up. I should have told them "event" instead of "packet pickup". I had to park in the casino overflow employee shuttle lot and hoof it in.

I ended up with 6.5 miles and I still have a deficit in my goal for this week. I'm only at 75%. No way I'll get to 100% this week. Oh well. But damn certain I will make 50 stairs. I will walk up and down the hill until I do.

When I arrived home there was another email from Angel. "Are you blogging about today? Because if you do:
- we walked about 4.2 miles
- we had crazy fitbit issues (hers got stuck and somehow turned on iTunes which played do-wop)
- we ate good food
- we had a great time
- and my fit bit gave me 92 active minutes!!! (mine gave me 1.25 hours active, 31 very active. That's good. I rarely get double digits for very active minutes, yet alone out of the teens.)
- next time let's do six miles!"

You are on Angel. Now what to do about the child ....

fitness challenge 4 & 5 -- boxing and a bike built for two

My friend Angel has built a fitness space in her garage.  Her garage is huge. the people that own the house before her made it two stories and had a print shop over the car space.  Some is used for the bike and mower storage like any other garage. But does yours have a sink? Her 10-year-old has claimed most of that space for her play house (and storage for outgrown toys).

A portion of the playhouse is made into a fitness center. There are hand weights (Angel used to lift 20 pounds. Say what?) from 20 down to three. The child uses fives. Mom 10s. There is a punching bag, sparing gloves, mats and all kinds of fun stuff.

Yesterday I tried boxing. I played about 15 minutes and was wiped out. I spent about 5 minutes punching Angel. I had to be sure to hit the yellow dot otherwise I'd hurt her hands. "Harder." "Faster." she would say.  The sweat was pouring off me. (My fitbit didn't budge. Maybe I should have placed it on my wrists?)

Then it was time for the bag. A little low for me but it was still quite a workout. Angel is petite and the child is 10. It works at that height for them. That bag is a lot harder to move and control than I thought. It looks so easy in the movies.

Then we attempted the bicycle built for two. Someone gave it to Angel and she took it to the bike shop to have it checked out. A few weeks ago her and her daughter tried it, but Angel isn't tall enough to stand while on the bike. Gayle to the rescue.

First I tried it myself. Cumbersome, but doable. Then We tried together. There is a slight hill at her house, and we couldn't get started. We walked it to the top of the hill and tried again. We got it going and moved forward. We looked like a drunken sailor, but we did it. Eventually it smoothed out, we figured out breaking, balance and starting and stopping. Angel also had to figure out body language.  Then I got overconfident and we tried to turn into the alley and almost hit someones bushes. Oops. We only went 2K and I felt like I rode 5 miles.  Next time we are going to walk it to the bike path and try there. And take someone along to take pictures!

Afterwards we drove up to Mosey Wood to pick up the child at camp. "Worse time ever*" she declared as we met. And then spent the next half hours talking non-stop about how much fun it was and what she wants to do next year. 10-year-old drama.

Now I am headed off to pick up my niece. She's helping with a gold award project today—a walking tour of the murals in Allentown. Apparently there is more than the one in post office and in the art park.  The whole gang, plus, is going. She needs 10 for it to count. I think I'm delivering eight.

 This is Blue Franklin "Houdini" Ackerman-Parry. His name is really just blue, but when he escapes and gos to the neighbors the children call him Franklin. I call him Houdini because of his love of the escape.


 (*Roommate issues and a counselor who frowns on middle of the night latrine runs.)

working and walking

One of my jobs is at a small liberal arts college at the fork of the Delaware, in Pennsylvania. We spend the summer gearing up for the new academic year. One of the biggest events being orientation.

This year for orientation they are doing a scavenger hunt to get the students familiar with the campus. They have to find the letters L-a-f-a-y-e-t-t-e L-e-o-p-a-r-d-s hidden in the buildings or on signs or even on manhole covers. It is an assignment I use for Type II all the time.

My job was to find the letters. So on Wednesday and Thursday my colleague and I set out for very long lunches. Walking and hunting for letters. We found a lot. X and O are plentiful. Other letters can be found easily but you have to twist your body into a pretzel to see them. For example columns. Columns will always make E and F but who walks sideways?

I think my colleague had fun and she sees typography in a whole new light. Wednesday we did the upper half of the campus. Thursday we did the lower half, including the athletic fields (and walking up to the top of the stands via the bleachers).

Tuesday, I might have to go get a few more. It depends on what the powers to be pick.

penn pump park!

We had a full house today and it was terrific.

I send out a email with my walking plans on a fairly regular basis to about six people. Usually only family comes. But not today. Lydia's friend Dawn aka "The Princess" could make it. She's not in the picture because she's taking it.

The plan was to walk to Tatamy and find the Tatamy trail. We went left instead of right and ended up climbing the hill to Hackett Park. Oops.

After coming down the hill we were crossing Crayola's parking lot and saw this deer. She posed for pictures then ran away.

On the home stretch I walked with Dawn and she brought up the Moon Walk. I told her the problem and she suggested posting the problem on the Moon walks facebook page. Maybe other walkers have a similar problem. So I did. We'll see. I really want to do it.

I did check out the map while I was on the site. The half goes thru Randall's Island (the start line) and then down the East River Greenway to 57th, then back adjacent to Central Park.

Tomorrow I'll be going to a deep water swim class with Bonnie, and Boot Camp in the evening with Megan.

Weigh in is Friday. I just turned down an ice cream sundae.

The bathroom rated an I-3.5 today.

it is hard to take a selfie with a baby

Happy Birthday David.

The gang walked today on the Palmer Bike Trail, the portion that serves as the D&L thru Palmer. Usually the walk photos have the baby in the carriage, but I got the silly idea to do a selfie after he was fed and changed. It's difficult. Babies don't cooperate.

Today Bonnie's family arrived right on time, and she left the car running. "I don't think five people will fit in my car with the car seat" she said. We ended up taking two cars.

We started walking in Riverside park off 25th street. It's kind-of under the Glendon Bridge. The lot was empty so we got two prime spaces in the shade, and near the bathroom. The we hit the trail. this is an out-and back trail. If you walk long enough you'll get to Jim Thorpe. Maybe another day. We went about 1.5 miles before the baby was unhappy. Megan was going to stop to feed him, but no benches. Luckily there was a bench where the Palmer Trail and the D&L split.

 As Megan fed the Wee One, Bonnie gave Megan water. It was hysterical.

While they did that, Lydia and I continued on about another mile to the boat launch. Then turned around and came back just as she was diapering the baby. Perfect timing. Then it was time for the trip back.

Somehow I arrived near the front, so I headed off to the swings. And then headed east on the new section of the trail, alone. I wanted to see how long it was, how it went, ect. this connecting strip to Hugh Moore Park was done last year. You used to have to walk on the highway.

As I was walking a few people passed me, and I thought "shouldn't be out here alone". (Easton has had some issues lately with assailants hanging out on the trails.) But all was fine. The path is slightly downhill and straight from the park until the end. Then you start seeing curve signs. The sign below is no exaggeration. The serpentine curves are downright U shaped. The path is divided so no one gets run over by an out-of control bike.

After the wacky curves, I arrived at the Hugh Moore trail head, turned around and walked up hill back. All-in-all I did about 6 miles. The came back and took Adonis for his walk.

Tomorrow we are doing Cedar Beach Park. We are going to try and find the trail behind Dorney, behind Haines Mill.

art trail

Today there was four us us! L'il Bug was hanging at my house for the night/day and she came along. Clearly we can't take selfies with shorter people. This is the best one.

We parked downtown and walked toward the trailhead, and then came back. Why? So we could go to the farmer's market of course.

 There is more art on the art trail. The red arch is new, as is this wooden piece. The gates have been there since the beginning but today they were open.

Today we could walk thru the gates and head toward the cemetery. Clearly they want no monkey business around the dead.

On the way back L'il Bug saw the scarlet tangier. Actually there were three. On the way down the trail she also saw what we think was an albino Mallard. He had the green head, but everything else was white.

The last shot in the series above is the silk mill from the trail. The trailhead begins at the silk mill. I believe they are turning it into apartments and lofts.

We returned to the car and headed to the square. Lydia headed into Crayola to use their facilities while we waited outside. There L'il Bug played "hug a crayon", instead of a tree.

More greens, but still light on produce. Many more organic / natural meats, cheeses, breads. The pickle people were there too. Also places selling plants.

After shopping till we dropped, we headed to the Purple Cow Bank Street Creamery for ice cream for lunch. Then headed out the artists alley and back to the car.

We walked a total of about 4 miles.

tibetian monks

The monks are back. This time they are on the Lafayette campus. So yesterday I decided to walk over and see the sand mandela.

The campus is awash in Tibetian flags blowing in the wind. And national flags because it's international student month. The quad was pretty.

 The first thing I encountered was this couch. The lawn was filled with people enjoying the sun. Every chair was filled. Not this couch. The sign says "the conversation couch". They want you to have a dialogue about faith issues. Clearly nobody was interested.

When I arrived a Hogg Hall they told me to take off my shoes. These are my type of people. Sadly, they were giving a lecture so I couldn't see the mandela. I stayed for awhile and then finished my walk.

fat girl plunging

 Before the Plunge—with coat and without.

Today was the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge into the Delaware. The last time I did it was in 2010, down near Philly. The water was cold. thank goodness it was not during the Arctic week. Today was about 34.

Firs thting I needed to do this morning was sweep the snow. It was only maybe a half-inch, so no shoveling was necessary.

Bonnie came about 10. We planned on arriving in Easton about 1.5 hours early for the noon start. Why? We had a walk to get in! After parking we went to Scott Park to sign in. I was in the third wave. Thankfully I didn't have to wait the hour till the 13th wave. I might have chickened out. I only had to wait 10 minutes.

We walked around and stopped at all the vendors. Should have taken a bag. I brought chips, Mike and Ikes, soft Pretzels and Wawa juice for Pat. We visited the photo booth, got some hot choloate from DDs booth, and Bonnie took her picture with the Wawa goose.

We had so much stuff we had to go back to the car, before heading over the free bridge. We headed up the Main street hill and walked about a mile to Shappell Park, walked around the park and back toward the bridge.

 Before crossing we headed up the Boylan Street stairs. All 146 of them. Then back over the bridge to the lot. After grabbing my bag, we headed toward the event. We arrived 10 minutes before the start. Perfect timing. I didn't take off my warm clothes until they started calling wave two.

Finally it was our turn. We went down to the start. And into the water we went. I went in to about my waist. Some crazy people put their heads under. Even though in the safety speech they told you not to. You can see one of the rescue boats in at the far right of the pix. Not a boat nor an ambulance was needed. Thank goodness.

I came out and immediately put on my pants and fleece jacket. I also took off my water shoes. (Note to self. Buy new water shoes.)

We hiked up the stairs to the park and headed back to the car.

All in all we walked four miles.