i think i've watch too much "law and order"

I didn't go to the Moon Walk. My heart is broken. I so wanted to do it. But I couldn't bring myself to walk next to Central Park, alone, wearing a bra. I've watch too much Law and Order. I know what happens in Central Park at night.

I asked friends / family /random people what to do and all but one said don't go. I posted the question on facebook and got two replies.I expected a large opinionated response.

The Moonwalk people said there would be tons of people and volunteers and police along the route. But the fact remains that doesn't happen when I'm in a half. That happens for the first 75, 80 percent of the people. Those of us bringing up the rear, get nothing. Sometimes not even a finish line. The food is gone, the tents are being taken down, everyone has gone home. It even happened at the Biggest Loser race.

So instead of having to look at pictures of me wearing my outfit, I submit this drawing:

1. The cap they gave me. The top is pink and white stripes with a blue brim. That means half-moon. (the full marathon is the full-moon.)

2. An old black bra (the one they gave me didn't fit. It's in the goodwill box) with a large Sex In The City style flower in the center. I used it for the 3-Day. Also recycled would be recycled magenta beads that I've picked up at cancer events.

Also, I'd be wearing my flesh colored generic Spanxs camisole to cover the belly fat. Really, nobody wants to see that.

3. My HipKlip flower purse. Big enough for ID, phone, a little money, tissues and of course the camera. No backpacks were allowed. When you check your bag they put your stuff in clear plastic bags.

4. Tutu. We were given a mylar blanket and instructed to tie it to our fanny pack or wear it around our waists as a reflector. I cut it up and made it into a tutu. Good thing I had others from the 3-Day.

5. My bib. I'm #2224. We were instructed to attach it to your pants. You have to use a marker and write the number across your chest and on your arms.

6. Black crop pants. Prevents chafing and covers a very ample butt.

7.  Birkenstocks. Don't I wish. No I would have worn my black and pink sneakers. I'm not crazy.

walking south bethlehem

Today Lydia and I did a variation of the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk. I say a variation, because we started at my house and trimmed other spots off.

We headed up to Sioux and out Summit to the Admin building at Lehigh and played in their sculpture fountain.

Then it as thru Lehigh and time to take selfies with the sculptures. This bronze lad looks like he's hitting on Lydia! After Zollner we headed down to the green way to the casino and outlet mall then back under the Hoover Mason Trestle.

We stared at it awhile trying to figure out if progress was being made. Couldn't. then continued on our way. They ripped down another building on this route, and the fencing said HMT gate 3? What is that?

It became abundantly clear when we hit the Steel Stacks. They've put up a sign—"HMT Hoover Mason Trestle take a walk through history. Under construction." They are also putting up Musikfest.

All in all it was about 5.5 miles. A good walk at about an 18 minute mile pace. Even better since this is about 5th day in a row I've worn my Birks to walk in.

Before Lydia we't home, we took the dog for a walk.

after dinner walks

Yesterday it started getting hot, and I really didn't feel like walking. But I drug my butt out there and did it. Lydia came along.

It was so hot neither of us felt like putting on sneakers. Well, the sneakers wouldn't have been bad, but the socks would have been tormet. So we wore our Birks.

Lydia decided she doesn't like walking in Birks. I, on the other hand, would do it all the time.

First we took the dog out. After being a bad boy in the house, he walked the best he's ever walked. He didn't stop much, or run ahead. Then we dropped the dog off and headed to Fountain Hill. We only did the fairly flat route between Delaware and Broadway, but it was enough to get the blood moving and work up a sweat.

Today I walked on campus, then between storms, walked around the block. We'll it's actually a variation on Adonis' route. I wanted a lot of up hill since I only had a half hour before it started to pour again.  Got home in plenty of time.

Tomorrow is a fast day. I have a weigh in on Friday and I've gained weight back. I even crossed back into the 220s. That's unacceptable.

fell into a ground hogs hole

Today I had off from my day job. (I just finished the night one.) So it was my turn to drive Bug to swim lessons at Memorial  Pool. (Yeah, Eryn finally got a learners permit!)

So we pull into the pool parking lot. I tell her I'm going for a walk, and I should be back in time, but if not, I left the car open, or she could sit on the lawn or the stoop and wait. Off she goes.

The pool sits at the top of the hill. So I decided to check out the "stairs" function on my new Fitbit. Stairs is really not the right word. What it really measures is inclines up. I headed down the driveway, then down the hill to Monocacy Park, then up the hill to Center Street.  I received a 5.

I turned around came down the hill, headed thru the park, over the waterfall bridge and back, and headed up the hill and up the driveway. At this point I was at 12. Clearly, it's steeper going up.

It was only 11:40. Still about a half hour to go. So I decided to loop the pool and the dog park. There were people everywhere. Apparently the come for both age level swim lessons and just hang out till the pool opens. They even bring coolers with lunch!

I returned to the entrance of the pool and there was still time, so I looped the pool again. This time, I was at the front of the pool and zig zagging up and down the grassy bank. I stepped in a groundhog hole and tumbled. Thank goodness I didn't roll! I am becoming a professional faller. When I was done my stair count was up to 18.

A pretty decent workout. I finished at the same time as Bug.

But something was quite different at the pool. Little of the grass was mowed. 70%, maybe is allowed to go fallow for environmental reason. They even put up a sign. But we all know it's a lot cheaper to leave big lawns go fallow than to mow.

Paths were mowed around the pool, the dog park, and another down to the street near the edge of the property, and a fourth down to the Monocacy trail.

water street park

Sunday we walked in Water Street Park. We took the original trail, not the rail trail. It progressively gets more natural. It's nice. But it's only about a mile one way.

Because my feet hurt I wore my Birks. It was divine not to have stupid sneakers on. But I was the slowest walker. Well behind Lydia and Bonnie. But it doesn't matter. I did it. Right?

Yes, and Birks with a fleece jacket is also weird. Call me complex.

Then we went to the Saucon Valley Farmers Market. Very few veggies at this point—honey, bread, plants, soaps, pickles, ect. We all received free bags. Mine is peach.

After I got home Sharon and I started cutting up the monster rose bush. When Kool-J and Lil Bug arrived they helped too. Then it was lawn mowing and weeding. And I still had two days of work to do in my online class.

Sunday I slept well.

(I lost all my photos yesterday when iPhoto ate them. It was quite hungry. These are from Lyds FB page.)

walking in circles

Today was the P'burg Relay For Life. Aka walking in circles. It's held at the high school track which is a 1/4 mile loop. A nice new rubber surface. Our friend Beth (I did the Avon with her) is one of the organizers.

We arrived about four and it had started to rain. There was not many people. Beth said it had been raining all day. Hard to raise money in the rain. People don't come.

We did 16 loops, or 4 miles. Maybe a little more. It was drizzling when we arrive and the black storm clouds were coming in when we left.

I took 78 home thinking it would be easier to drop Bonnie off. There was construction and a 20+ minute traffic jam. It would have been quicker to go thru town!

Tomorrow is the Color Me Mad Race. We're all meeting at the crack of dawn.

(If you zoom in you can see my band aid over my left eye.)

chaos reigns supreme

Today was the Beat Beethoven 5K. Everything that could go wrong did. But we survived. It was so crazy I forgot to call my sister after the race with the results!

Where shall I begin. I guess at the beginning. I got up at 3L30 to pick up friends at the airport. I left at 4:15. The plane was to arrive at 5:21 and they told me to come between 5:45-6. We normally get home around 8, even with stopping for breakfast. I told Lydia to let herself in at 8, and I'd be home no later than 8:30.

Wrong.

The plane was an hour late, so I was at the airport about an hour and a half. We didn't stop for breakfast. and I got home at 8:35. We ran out the door and headed to Reading. We decided if we missed the start we'd do it anyway, unofficially.

We headed out Susquehanna and under the 8th street bridge to MLK Blvd. Flashing lights. Oh crap. The St. Luke's Marathon was today. We did a U-turn and headed for Lehgih Street, hopped on 309 and got to Hamilton Blvd. The speeding gods were with me today. I made it with 10 minutes to spare. We had google directions, but Lydia turned the GPS in her phone on. No time to get lost!

When we got out of the car you could hear music. Lyd thought it was canned. It wasn't. It was the youth orchestra playing Beethoven. There was a lot of people. Not just runners/families but people with lawn chairs for a free concert. I could so see my brother Dave doing that.

Then we ran into Beethoven. He was busy so we made a mental note to check back with him.

This race is for the Reading Symphony Orchestra. The game, for runners anyway, is to beat Beethoven. Te kids play a portion of the 5th and they have to get back before it's done. If you "beat Beethoven" I think there is a special medal.

It was a hilly course, sometimes short, but very steep, but not as bad overall as Yuengling. I had planned on staying with Lyd again, but she was sore from yesterday and walking slower. I couldn't keep up. I finally went ahead. Mental note. (Speed training only one day during the weekend.)

I finished in 52:10 and Ly in 63.


Afterwards we joined the party. The kids were still playing. Beethoven gets on the mike as says that he's tired of his "hits". He wants to hear "his 6th". The director said no. How about "the 7th"? No again. I think the kids didn't know them. They played the 9th. A fine selection even if he couldn't "hear" what he wrote.

While we were listening they had snow cones for sale. It's probably been 20 years since I had one. I forgotten how sweet they are. Ice is good on a warm day after a race. I got us smalls. They were giant. The two of us could have ate one and still thrown some away.  And I have a sizable sweet tooth.

As the orchestra was wrapping up, we found Beethoven and had our pix taken. (He's in gold. The town crier is in red. Why am I holding my shoes? I took my Birks of course!) We got out of there before the awards started.

color run #2

Today was the color run. The top pix is "before". The bottom is "after". Enough said? Probably not, you want details, right? Right.

You twisted my arm.

Angel, Darrell and Bug arrived about 4:45. Lyd and Adonis were back by 5. We hit the road at 5.  wore Birks.

Everything seemed to go great. We past the area on the Turnpike that was problematic Saturday.

After we past Lansdale, Angel said, Gayle, you gas light went on. Oh poop. In the chaos of Saturday I didn't get gas. We go off the same exit as Saturday and no gas stations. When we finally started finding some, they weren't open! I was starting to panic. We'd miss the race. It took a half hour, and I was running on fumes when we finally found gas.

Thank goodness the rest of the trip was fun.

We parked at a garage at 21st and Market and walked to the Ben Franklin. We just followed the sea of white shirts. Since I had checked us in the day before we didn't need to do anything but get in the start line. They were leaving 1000 people thru at a time. 2300 were registered. It took about 20 minutes to get thru the line. We might have started walking at 8ish. Darrell followed us on the sidewalk to the first color station—pink.

You cannot imagine how dense the cloud of dust is. You can't see a thing walking thru it. 

The second station was in Fairmont Park, kind-of near Zoo. It was blue. The blue people were much more aggressive with color than the pink people. I somehow escaped most of it.

 Then on Lincoln drive we had Orange, followed quickly by yellow. I got the full brunt of the orange people. I think I was too clean!

Yellow was the last station. As we went got to the other side Angel and Eva dropped to the ground and started playing in the dust. People were making snow angels!

We were almost back at the art museum when Bug yelled "there is daddy!" I told her to run over an hug him. He had no interest in attending the rainbow color throw. he waited on the steps of the museum.

After the throw we got into the circle and were blown off by a leaf blower.

We retrieved Darrell and went looking for the changing tent but didn't find it. So we changed in the parking deck.

Then went and looked for a place for brunch.

there is a dress barn at the casino!

The casino in town has a mall. I guess it's a high end outlet mall. If that's the case I don't understand why Dress Barn is there. But it doesn't matter. It's there. It is my favorite store to buy clothes and I can walk to it—that should keep the binge purchases down. You are looking at one fat girl in heaven!

This week has been a series of little walks and Zumba. Nothing exciting.

I did go to Zumba Wednesday night. It was hot. Very hot. I still only did maybe a third of it. I am just not that coordinated. But I will try at least one more time.

Thursday I had a meeting at Gilbert's on campus and took the scenic route there and back. I could have stayed all day. We talked about the project—a book filled with photos of dead pigeons—for ten minutes and talked the rest. Part way in we were joined by the college archivist. It was my kind of meeting.

I usually walk from a drop-off point from the car pool. But I was a lazy butt and had them drop me off at home. The heat was on.

Friday I did not walk with Betsy. We decided that an afternoon walk in 100 degree weather was crazy. And they were calling for violent storms. Instead, I did a morning, two mile flat walk with Bonnie down at the Steel. The storms never came, but it did rain hard a couple of times. Later in the afternoon the power went off. In the dark for a hour and a half, I went for Chinese for dinner.

Today, Sharon, Lyd and I went for 2.66 miles, around the steel, the casino and a section of the Greenway that we've never walked on. The extension to Hellertown is being worked on. Can't wait to walk the whole thing. It will meet with the Saucon Valley Trail, and then with the Coopersburg trail. Being noisy, I trip over a guide wire at the Skatepark.

I did every walk in my Birks. It was heaven.

3 bridges, 2 stairwells, and a cop

Today Lyd came over about 10. it was cool and overcast, so I decided to do a bridge walk. These are better on overcast days, because there is no place to hide from the sun.

We left my place and headed up to Seneca, and walked past the old house. At Delaware, we made a left and headed town to Brighton, out Brighton and across the Hill To Hill Bridge and the 2nd Avenue Ramp.

Coming down the hill I asked Ly if she wanted to go directly to the Fahy Bridge or if she wanted to do Sand Island and use the stairs. She voted for Sand Island. This is when we discovered the the playground has no swings! Those poor children. Walking toward the bridge I asked Lyd if she wanted to make the loop around the island or go straight up the stairs. She asked me all the normal questions, how far, where, ect. Then voted to go for it. It would add about a half mile to the route and she still said yes.


We had reached the turn to cross the canal and she decided we could get a great pix of the steel if we went down the hill. It was a great photo op, but I had Birks on! It wasn't easy.

From the pix you can see any weight I'm losing is above the waist. I am now a bowling pin. Swell. Soon I'll look like Aunt Emma. This is clearly an unflattering photo.

Then we climbed back up the hill, crossed the bridge and headed down the canal tow path to the Fahy Bridge.

We climbed up the stairs, crossed the river and creek, and came down the stairs onto Second Street. Then wove our way back to my house.

We had come out of an alley and onto Alaska street and I didn't even look to cross. Why, I have no idea. Lydia says, Gayle, there's a cop. Oops. Then he pulls over. I'm thinking poop. He's going to give us a citation. But alas, it was only a coincidence. He had bigger fish to fry.

We were home maybe 15 minutes, when a certain spoiled furry creature demanded a walk. Off we went again.

my birk floated away

This really isn't a post about walking. Or exercise. Or diet. I really try to limit my stories about the roommate, but today I'm pissed off. So you Dear Readers get to hear my tale of woe.

Every eight weeks or so I have my nails done and a pedicure. It's the only thing girly I do. More importantly it was some pamper time for me. I don't know how it started but the roomie started coming along. I've probably mentioned she rarely leaves the house. Yet alone her Lazy Boy.

So we go. The roomie also went next door to Style America and got her hair cut. Of our outing this wasn't so bad. Yet.

The roomie really doesn't eat much. Never did. Rotten teeth don't help. And when she does, it goes right through her. She chose a national chain. This time I was prepared and looked up the menu before I left. I had ideas. (I need to ask Megan about Weight Watcher points. Several items were labeled 8/9 points. I think that's a good thing.) Everything on the under 550 menu had shrimp. Ick. The biggest thing again was the salt. Again, it was in the next time zone.

Black clouds were gathering as we headed from the restaurant to Bottom Dollar. The roomie has picked up my old soda habit. She drinks about a two liter a day. Bottom Dollar had soda for 79 cents. I ran in, got that and a few other things we needed. Some frozen. I put that bag in the car (just in case there was a storm when we got home. We could turn on the air and wait.) and the others in the trunk. It started to thunder.

As we are driving home the rain begins. We were driving into the storm. By the time we hit the bridge, my wipers were on high speed and I couldn't see a thing. By Broadway the roads were flooded. It was raining hard when we got home.

A miracle—I parked in front of my house. I said to her it's only a couple few feet, I'm taking the frozen food in. I had cover with the tree, the awning, and a umbrella. The storm should be over in five minutes. I get on the porch, fairly dry, unlock the door and go into the house and I see the car moving. She is climbing over the gear shift to come out my door!

"What the &*%@ are you doing?"

"Coming out your side. I have to go."

"You can't wait five minutes?"

"I'm caught on the brake!" The brake was jammed all the way up her short legs.

In the struggle to get her free, I lost the umbrella, and my lower body is getting drench. There is a river running over my feet. I went to move my foot and the current took my Birk right off my foot and sent it hurling downstream. &*%@.

I finally got her free and she ran into the house. I had to totally change. And clean up the water from the rain in four rooms.


By the time I came downstairs the rain had stopped. Thankfully my Birk became caught on a cars tire before it reached the sewer.


There's a 5K tomorrow. The Run for Riley.  Guess I should go for a walk to prepare for it.

calculated risk

At 5 am it was bright and sunny. I thought, yeah the rain is over. I can walk.

For a change I have the day off. I have choices. Walk first thing, or wait till late morning and walk to the south side farmers market and then uptown to Aardvark and look at Vibrams. I have a 10% off coupon and a $100 gift card burning a hole in my pocket.

If they are comfy and I like them, should I break them in at the Relay? I'd always have my Birks to switch to. Hmm.

I took the risk and decided to wait. It's 9 am and looks all black and rainy again. The birds are still singing.

It's a gamble. Hopefully Mother Nature sides with me today.

relay for life

Saturday night I'll be walking in circles at the Relay for Life-Phillipsburg. I'll be on the team with Beth, who walked with me in the first Avon NY walk.

I figure a high school track is a 1/4 mile. So how many circles do a make my goal? I need a goal otherwise I'll die from boredom going round and round. Four laps is a mile. So forty would be 10 miles. It doesn't sound like enough. For a while I considered 200 (50 miles!). Then 100 (25 miles.) Sixty laps would be 15 miles. That seems doable. twenty miles, one day of the 3-Day would be 80 laps. I'm so confused.

What do I pick?

I think I'm going to say 50 minimum, 75 maximum. I think that's a good goal.

Now what shoes do I wear? I'm thinking my Birks.

120,000 people?

I estimated the crowd today at the Race for the Cure to be about 30, maybe 40, thousand people. Reports I'm seeing on line have estimates up to 120,000!

No wonder I lost Bonnie.

But let's backup. We arrived at Fairmont Park at exactly 6 am. The buses were lined up and ready to go. There were a lot of them. I slipped off my Birks and decided I could just walk across the grass to the bus. No use putting the sneaks on before I have to.

Our bus driver was breaking laws by texting and driving. He got lost. We were on the first bus, but arrived maybe as the third or fourth bus. And blew right past the art museum. How is that possible? It takes up several city blocks!

We hiked back and went to the survivors breakfast. As we suspected it was all bread based. What was shocking was the Entenmann's breakfast goodies. No Tastykakes. Is nothing sacred? Bonnie left with a cup of tea and some fruit.

We ran into Stephanie from the YWCA working in the Koman booth. A job I helped with a couple years ago.

I took my 3-Day backpack because I knew we'd pick up lots of stuff. We did. Lots and lots of it. We had our pix taken three times. Once at the Bank America booth, once at Ford, and once at the Cancer Treatment Centers. The first two gave us a card to claim our photos. The last was an old fashioned photo booth. I waited for the pixs while Bonnie ran for the survivors parade and photo.

This is where we made the mistake. We should have planned a meeting spot. We didn't.

I went to watch the hoopla and even attempted to take a video on my camera. After it was over this sea of pink walks down the stairs of the museum and through the crowd. When it first started there was an aisle. Within 5 minutes there wasn't People joined their family members.  I waited for a while and knew I wouldn't see Bonnie so I decided to go to the Start line. Logically place to wait in my pea-sized brain.

Problem was, Bonnie didn't know where the start line was. She went to the finish line. Phones were not working well and texts didn't work at all.  I was screaming in the phone. Thousands of people were passing me.

Oh, and did I mention she fell? Off the curb right in front of the art museum. She has a goose egg on her knee.

I went to the finish line, we connected and headed for the start. Runners were done. Walkers were already crossing. I think that the finish clock said 39 minutes on it and we hadn't even started yet.

We finally start and were in a group of thousands of people in front and behind. It never eased up. They just kept coming and coming. We spent the race weaving in an out. I'm fairly sure we crossed in under an hour, but I'm not sure of the time. I think they will be posted tomorrow or the next day. Hopefully I can plug in my number and do a search.

I had been waiting about 5 minutes when these people
passed me. The line stretch down the parkway, around the oval,
and past the museum. When Bonnie and I crossed
15 minutes later, there were thousands of people
behind us still waiting to start!

We walked around a bit and went to the Wawa tent for food. They only had donuts and pretzels left.  Good thing I had picked up a couple of strawberry yogurts earlier.

We had to search out the shuttle bus stop since Bozo left us off at the wrong corner. We found it and waited a good 10 minutes to be put on a bus. They were filling them 2 buses at a time, but it was taking forever.

We finally arrived back at the park, and a cop was stationed right by my car. I thanked him for personally watching it.

Things we learned today:

• Don't wear pink to a breast cancer event
• Plan a meeting spot if you get separated
• Check to make sure you have phone/text abilities in your location before you get separated.

CBS3 is one of the sponsors. Here's a link to their coverage.

------
official weigh in 232.5. Not bad. Only 1.5 pound gain since my last weigh in six weeks or so ago.

it's baaaack

Spring has strung and lighter weight clothes have come out. And my every faithful Birks. Now that it's May I can get away with wearing them to work. No hose. No heels. Hurray.

While celebrating I discovered something. My laziness since spring has had an impact. Not on the scale. (Perhaps the scale. Don't know. Haven't weighed myself in forever, and I'm eating like a pig.) But my thighs. Without hose they rub together. Eeeeeeeek.

The best part when training for my first 3-Day was the day I discovered my thighs didn't rub together. My shorts didn't creep up. I did a happy dance walking down Smiley Avenue.

It's back. It needs to go away. Now I'm motivated. Schools almost over so. The excuse train has left the station.

I am goal and deadline driven: The  "rub" will be gone by Dave's birthday party at the ballpark. And so will the first 10 pounds (maybe more) of my 30 pound weight loss summer goal. With no classes I can do much more of the cooking.

So there. I said it. It's out in the universe and I must now do it.

I'll weigh myself this weekend at Bonnie's after the Race for the Cure.

about 5 miles, about 1300 stairs

bonnie poses at a breast cancer rock outside a sorority

The weather is beautiful today. At this moment it's only 82 with 34% humidity. At 7 this morning it was gorgeous.

We did 2 miles out Broadway, back Delaware, down 4th to New to Campus Square. We figured the stair climb on campus would be about a mile, and then by the time we got back to my place another mile.

Wrong.

We did about half the campus and covered at least two miles up and down the stairs. Bonnie was doing a rough count and came in at about 1268. About 80% we figured were up.

We climbed up and up and up and up and then down and back up again. I found new dorms that I didn't know existed.

On our travels we passed the media center for the Eagles training camp. We could not do the old "there's the action news van again" because it wasn't there. Must have been at Musikfest. Everyone was loading up for the day.

We also pasted huge amounts of fungus that looked like brains. Appropriate, I guess for a university. I refrained from doing the girl scout fungus amon'gus cheer.

This little moth was on the
stairs at Zoellner. The 1001st step.

So we decide to head for home and I apparently made a wrong turn. We got to Montclair avenue but there was no exit from campus. We would have had to bush whack. I had Birks on (no sneakers with my infected toe) so it wasn't practical either. Turns out the woods aren't at street level. We would have had to jump off a retaining wall.

After walking, I raced over to T'ai Chi. I was late again. This week it wasn't as hot, and I think I did better.

bonnie jumped in the pool!

When I got up this morning, the bulky pink bandage with the happy face was gone. I had to dig around and find a band-aid.

I started the day with a 2.25 mile slow walk in Birks with ML and Sharon. I lost the band-aid. I returned home, ate some breakfast, refixed my toe, and went with Bonnie to the George Yasso 5K. When that was over I went to T'ai Chi. So why am I fat? Oh yeah I remember, I eat too much.

Anyway, I had just finished breakfast when Bonnie called that she was on her way. I hastily filled my water bottle and ran out the door when she beeped. Forgot my hat and sunscreen. At the 5K they had sample sunscreen. It was thick. I had enough on one arm for Bonnie and I.

There was maybe a dozen walkers. That was disappointing. Maybe it was the hills. There were three generous ones, but they only lasted a block. They don't call it Fountain HILL because it's level, right? Bonnie teamed up with a woman from Pawnee Street Jen. Tattoos were there conversation stater. Who'd think they also both had ponds. They lost me on all three hills. But I did catch up each time.

It was hot. Not so much humid but hot. As we approached the FH fire station they had a sprinkler out. Debsy's daughter Tiff is part of the EMS squad, and took out picture going thru. We walked very slow. We were certainly off our 51 minute pace. I don't really care. I might have been slower with the Birks, but did it feel good not to wear sneakers. How long can I milk this toe thing?

I didn't lose the band-aid this time, but it did cause a blister on the tow next to it. Yuck. It's been so long since I had one.


When we finally arrived back at the pool —53:19 for Bonnie and Jen, 53:50 for me—Bonnie said she was going to use the rest room. She was gone a long time. When she returned she was soaked. She jumped into the pool.

She walked back to the car (pix) carrying her sneakers and drinking diluted Gatoraide. Heck, I even drank some of that stuff today. Did I mention it was hot?

We encourage Jen to join "every two feet".

6-8 miles tomorrow.

will i get sneakers on?

Good thing I can do a 5K....or 60 miles for that matter....in Birks. I'm gonna have to tomorrow. (Yeah!) Don't think my big pink toe ill fit in my sneakers.

For years I've had problems with ingrown toenails. My sister Elin, aka Dr. Siegfried, used to fix them. Then she died in spring. It cost $250 to have it done. Yikes. Having two or three a year it adds up. So the cash price for the surgery (I'm uninsured) was $450. It has a 90% success rate. With my luck I'll fall into that 10%. Because I'm always drawing while there, he drew the happy face on the bandage. I like that it's pink.

He said everything should be back to normal in about 2- weeks and it should not effect my walking at all. Of course it will take months for the nail to grow back up.

Where it lists all the risks on the consent form it said something about not being able to wear regular shoe. Wow that's a side effect I can wrap my head around.

The heat wave is back, so it's going to be a long, hot weekend of walking. I did about 2 miles of hills this morning, including Fredrick Street. Tomorrow is the 5K and t'ai chi. Then Sunday is a potential 8-mile walk. We're starting at 7:30 to try and beat most of the heat. I would have started at 6 but I don't think anyone would have joined me!

barefoot?

I'm always being teased about walking in my Birks. The young women in the photo did the Tortoise and Hare 5K today in Wind Gap, barefoot! It was hot and humid, with minimal shade. I can't even imagine how hot the macadam was.

But that's the race, I guess we should start at the beginning.

I forgot my camera. The washer broke before I left the house and Bonnie called she was on her way and I just ran out without it. Eeek. Good thing I had my phone. Pictures are low resolution, but better than nothing.

We arrive in Wind Gap about 8:30. The race started at 9. I rarely take the event tee shirt because frankly they are ugly. Enormous logo on the front, and what seems like 400 sponsors on the back. I regretted that today. The tees were black, and made from performance material. Since I didn't take a tee, I also didn't get a goodie bag. Again, which is normally fine. It's generally plastic, and filled with ads, a sample chapstick, sunscreen and a box of Mike and Ikes. Today's was a cloth string type backpack. Might actually be useful.

Sharon waited in the park while Bonnie went searching for the comfort station and I hiked the stuff back to the car. When I got back I took the second pix. Looks like they don't like each other. Lots of room in between! Then I had Sharon snap one of us.

They had people taking pictures at the 2-mile line and the finish line, so I'll come back and post links for them.

The course was hilly, not steep, but hilly anyway. And Sunny. Bonnie and I were hoping to do 50 minutes, but she came in at 53:49 I think, and I came in at 54:10. The last stretch was tough. I was spent. I think I was a little dehydrated. I told Bonnie to go on ahead. I was very puffy at the end. When I took off my socks and sneakers at home even my ankles were swollen.

We told Sharon at the beginning that she was on her own. We'd go back for her. She's a bit pokey. She actually didn't walk to the starting line, but joined us when we got to the park. She bailed at the 2-mile mark. I'm not sure if they even got her picture walking. We were on the home stretch when she called. We were a bit surprised when the sweep van, an ambulance, didn't bring her in. She told them that we'd get upset if she wasn't waiting there for us. She had a phone. All she needed to do was call for Pete's sake.

Bonnie and I had hoped she'd say no more 5Ks but she's joining us on the Monster Mash in October. Swell.

Our next 5K is the Highmark on June 12. Then a 4-mile on July 4th.

makeover?

Well, what do you think of the makeover of the banner? I redid my doodling blog, and my friend Angel's cooking blog about two weeks ago and have been thinking about redoing this one a lot.

The biggest stumbling block was the "self-portrait".

I have some body image issues. But then, you could have guessed that. There was a show on television called How to Look Good Naked or something like that. It was on cable, so I only saw it once. It was all about body image and loving yourself.  In one of the exercises they had about eight women the same height and bone structure as you, from skinny to really fat.  So you had to put yourself in the line.  I would have put myself in the next room.

Today, I saw a woman who I thought represented "me". I said to my carpool, is that how fat I am? They said no. I was much thinner. Really? I can't believe that.  I made my portrait a little thinner. Not much. For those who know me, is she really too fat?

She's wearing her trademarked Birks and all dressed in pink, to represent the breast cancer walks without using ribbons. And her Kentucky Oaks "Ladies First" cap. Even though this year I'm trying to wear the dreaded sneakers.

Too fat or not, she's sassy and has attitude. Now I just need to find some of that also.