glitter fell from the sky

It's February in Pennsylvania, so that means it's snowing. Again. But today was different.

I woke to about 2-3 inches of the finest snow possible. I was out shoveling and it sparkled. Like Mother Nature dropped a bottle of glitter. I'm guessing it was micro pieces of ice. But I have no idea. It was beautiful. Made my day.

I shoveled it and it blew right back. It was that light. After clearing the front sidewalk, I walked up the hill and back down the alley and did the back. Then retraced my steps and went home.

The only other walking I did was my scenic route around the college.

Otherwise I've been working on my resumes, job hunting, and trying to build an online portfolio.

Saturday, I'm doing the Tail on the Trail snowshoeing event. I have to call and reserve.

colder at home than in nome

I am so thankful that I'm waiting for Bonnie in "Nome". It's a balmy 15 degrees here. I wonder if anyone told her they changed the route. She'll be doing some serious rock climbing if she didn't get the memo.

I kind of miss waiting for Dave. He always brings the bourbon.

and done, again

I should really save some of this for one of those "routine" walking days when there is nothing interesting to post. I won't make the next level till I reach 8000 flights. That's a lot of hills! Good thing I live in a hilly neighborhood.

And I'm finally making some progress on the "fit for food" program.

and done

I also finished the Idita-Walk. Now I get to hang out at the Nome Nugget Inn and wait for Bonnie to arrive.  Thank goodness for indoor walking. Outside its tough this year.

Twenty-nine other people have finished. A lot of them have Volkssport clubs as their "group".

The actually Ididarod begins March 7 in Fairbanks this year because of lack of snow. But it will end here in Nome, as always.

It's only a few degrees colder in Alaska than it is here.

done

The Tail on the trail challenge is done. I think part two is triple. I think I can do that.

Fit for Food

Fitbit has a challenge happening right now. The month of February they are donating a big hunk of money to Feeding America. How much that chunk is depends on how many calories "we" burn. Sad part is it's not all your calories. Just your active ones.

Fitbit has four activity categories—sedentary, lightly active, fairly active, and very active. Today's walk, which included four major hills and a bunch of smaller ones, only earned me 660 calories. The other 12K calories I burned today don't count. And that's a bummer.

So it looks like only my weekend walks will be going to Feeding America. During the week I'm mostly lightly or fairly active.

coins to the bank

I've been seeing these signs all over town in the past week. Today when I was out walking I took the picture. Correct me if I am wrong. A patient obtains these items two ways—buy them outright at the drug store. Or get them at the drug store thru your insurance company. If you buy them with your money why would you sell them. If you get them thru the insurance company and sell them, isn't that insurance fraud? Not to mention really stupid and life threatening? (Unless, of course, you've changed monitoring systems and have a surplus.) Color me very puzzled.


My walk today was a simple square. First stop was to the bank at the 5-points. Both the coin containers on my desk were full, so I thought I'd walk them down and placed them in my canvas lunch bag. It wasn't too bad. I have carried heavier bags of coins. The grand total was just under $90. Not bad.

After leaving the bank, I headed up Wyandotte street to Sassafrass. I learned pretty quickly that is a bad idea during snow season. One sidewalk was shoveled above Sioux Street. And the block between Fiot and Sassafrass was downright horrible. I walked in the street. At 3 pm. Not smart.

So it wasn't a long walk, but I got out.

I managed to walk, even just a little each week.  Four days I even reached 10K steps.  Thank goodness.

The Idtawalk and the Winter Challenge begin Sunday. The winter challenge has two levels—30 miles in 30 days. Or 90 miles in 30 days. You know I'm going for the ninety.

On a different note, the new Liberty Bell Wanders website goes live tomorrow. T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D. Could someone remind me of why I volunteered to do this?

today

Tail on the Trail announced today the winter challenge. 30 miles in 30 days. Not much of a challenge. But I'll do it anyway.

Today's walk was hilly. I got to thinking as I walked it that I used to think these hills were steep. They aren't. I think I need a new neighborhood.

Today's walk  was down the hill and back up to Seneca. Then down Seneca, and up Clewell to Jeter. Down the steep hill at the hospital (almost lost mama in her wheelchair on that one!) and up St Luke's Place. Then down Fiot, and back up Fiot and home.

Again, it wasn't a long walk, but I got it done.

I took my iPod and took a pix of these red berries. It is my first picture for 2015. I need to remember to take it with me for the camera function. (All the music on it stinks. Never buy workout tapes.) I'll have to borrow the SLR from school for the Niagara Falls Volkssport trip in May.

I've also been busy unsubscribing from race-fitness emails. My in-box used to be filled with  them. So many temptations. But if I stick to "buy only essentials" I can't be tempted. I'm weak.

I nearly failed at this goal about a week ago. I found a Nordic Walking workshop in King of Prussia. I was literally filling out the form to sign up and I stopped myself. The same day I found a Chi Walking workshop in NYC. Both were about $100. Plus travel. Clearly non-essential.

The only other pre-paid events on my calendar are the Idita-Walk, Tri-To-Help in Lancaster in February, and the Yuengling Loger Jogger with my niece and friend in April. I was doing the Tri-To-Help with a fitness friend, but she withdrew to do yet another half marathon. (Her plan is two a month for the whole year. No thank-you.) Other than that it's Volkssport walks/events and just plain old walking.

Now where is my log info for the Idita-walk?

walking update

The Idita-Walk starts on February first. Looks like I'm headed to Alaska alone this year.  Barb and Dave are staying home, Bonnie has radiation, Lydia is broke, and Megan is now full time, plus a baby. The Nome Nugget Inn will not be the same.

The Tail On The Trail is hinting at a winter challenge. I'll also be doing that.

Last time I miss-spoke. Or is it miss-wrote? It occurred to me today as I was walking. On Tuesday-Thursday school days I am not walking as much, but I am walking. It's the infamous walk around the block. Up Fiot or Sassafrass to Wyandotte, and then down the opposite hill to Broadway. Out Broadway to Bishopthorpe and home. Or vise versa. It's not far. Maybe a generous half mile. But it's difficult. I get about 12 flights of stairs with the hills. And the incline is only three blocks.

The sidewalks on Fiot are horrific. I try and walk in the street.

Then, I park the furthest away from school, and hike to my building on the opposite side of campus. Two ways. Again, not far, but also not sitting on my butt.

Am I making 10K steps? Not even close. But for January, I guess it isn't bad. I'm okay with it. The two challenges shall motivate me. I usually reach Nome in about 2 weeks. I need to beat last years total, even if it's by a minute.

Golly I miss my camera. Taking pictures was one thing that got me to walk.

I'm trying to eat better. I certainly am eating less. Angel is logging my food on myfitnesspal. I don't even have the log in. PROTEIN. Every day she says eat more protein.

I am trying to stay positive. Not easy for me. I am a real negative Nancy. But I am determined to stop making a mountain out of a molehill. A lot of other family and friends have it way worse than me. Be thankful for what I have. Not for what I don't have.

To that end, I've also stopped posting on FB, at least for a while. I've also started moving my more zealous friends to the acquaintance list. The negativity was bringing me down.

goals for january

I'm not really into making New Year's resolutions, I don't keep them. Instead I've decided to work toward a couple of long range personal goals. Some will be new. Some will reoccur. Most will be a work in progress. I'm hoping for no total drop-outs.

1. Walk more. Whine less. I bet y'all will appreciate that one. I've just learned about Nordic walking. I'd like to try that. If I can find a group somewhere. I'd also like to take a race walking clinic. Not that I want to race walk. I just want to try it.

2. Spend less. Save more. With my crazy schedule I eat out way too often. I also buy on impulse. Both must stop. For January I want to try no eating out at all. Not even a candy bar. Which I shouldn't eat anyway. This will be especially difficult when school starts next week.

I'm also going to stop spending. If it is a want, rather then a need, it's a no. That includes races. And fonts. And stock images. It's going to be a long month.

3. Close the Gayle Savings and Loan Bank permanently. Please do not approach me with a sad story about hard luck. The bank is closed. I'm tired of supporting up to five people. I really need a new kitchen. I won't get one if I keep giving my money away. Live within your means people. If people call you cheap, like they call me cheap, wear it as a badge of honor.

4. Buy new sneakers. I think my sudden onset of knee and hip pain is not solely because of genetic arthritis. Both pair are worn out. Perhaps it's effecting the way I walk. This fall I bought all new shoes. Some were flats. Perhaps this was a bad idea?

5. Eat better. I fell off the nutrition wagon in late spring. I don't know what the road block was, but it happened. My clothes are getting small. It must stop. Now. I do best when I keep a food diary. But without someone ... other than me ... looking at it. I can look and say this is a crappy day, but I won't do anything about it. I need to be kept accountable.

My friend Angel is a bit of a fanatic about nutrition. She is skinny as a rail and watches every thing she eats. Then goes crazy occasionally. She works out almost every day and has a bunch of phone aps to keep track. So I asked her if she'd be my nutrition conscious. She set up a myfitnesspal.com account for me that I have no access to. She'll give me reports once a week. I already found out that my breakfast smoothie isn't nutritionally sound. Actually it's a slightly better milkshake. Bummer. It's an easy morning meal.

It's day one and it already has had an impact. I knew it would. Since I have to write it down and show it to someone, I think before I shove something into my pie hole.

She has made an aggressive goal for me. 45 pounds. Yikes. In May that would have been 15. I've gained nearly 30 back. 4 years of work down the tubes.

6. Buy Health Insurance and make doctors appointment. Okay ACA coverage is a must-do, not a goal. But maybe if I write it down I'll do it.  (My bank book says no, no, no.) So pretty much is the doctors appointment.  I run out of meds in a month.

That is enough for one month.

 

From my Monday, Jan. 5 "Today Is Going To Be A Great Day" email calendar.

day 17 of 18 new year's eve

Day 14/18 was a Sunday. Why didn't I do significant walking? Don't remember but I didn't.

Day 15/18 work day. At lunch I ran errands and didn't walk. Another disappointment.

Day 16/18 work day. Brought lunch. Nothing happening at work—everyone was off. Phones didn't ring. Emails didn't ping. Went to the movies after work to see Into The Woods. Broadway musicals on film are not what they used to be. Another day of not walking.

Pathetic, isn't it. That's five of the 18 days I didn't walk, with three in a row. Clearly, I failed at this challenge.

New Year's Eve was Day 17. Bonnie and I went to the Allentown Comfort Suites and did the end of the year volkssport paperwork and change the stamp to 2015. Then we headed off to Trexler Park to walk. We did the General Trexler loop, the longer one, and then did the extension loop that goes out to Tilghman and Cedar Crest Blvd. So basically it was a figure 8. I'm not sure what the mileage was.

Then in the afternoon I took Eryn's kids to The DaVinci Center. All three of them. At once. They appeared to have a great time. Actually it went really, really well until the last 15 minutes when I told the 6-year-old Bubba that it was time to go. He didn't want to go and had a major meltdown. The kind where when you see it happening to other people you judge them as horrible parents. The big kids said he does it all the time. Often he's successful. I never thought when we were going over the rules in the car, that when Aunt Gayle says it's time to go, we go would be one of them. Next time it will be.

The girl-child had my camera and took about 150 pictures. We were on the second floor when a voices goes "Aunt Gayle, the camera stopped working." No, the battery was not "exhausted". It goes on, the screen is dark, but you cannot push any buttons. Guess I'll be using my iPod to take pixs.  It will finally get used after three years. One of my challenges for 2015 is not buying anything but necessities. (Real food, laundry soap, ect. Clothes, shoes, cameras, snacks or other non-nutritional food are not a necessity.)

With a major grocery shopping spree, the day only yielded about 12K steps.

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 7 of 18, cookie baking, not walking

Yesterday was an epic fail walking wise. As the first day of winter, there were just not enough hours of light. As much as I love my ’hood, I'm not walking alone in it at night.

I was up by 6:30 and had the wash started by 7. Then I headed out to pick up Lydia and spent the day at Bonnie's making Christmas cookies. Sadly, I took no photos. I had to steal a collagé off of Lydia's FB page.

We baked a double batch of kifles, ginger, kiss, toll house, oatmeal raisin and flourless peanut butter. All but the kifles are gluten free. Bonnie found some great AP gluten free flour that works in most situations.

When we arrived back at my place at 3:30, I walked Adonis, served dinner and took Lydia, Adonis, and Sharon home--with a stop at Eryn's house. When I pulled into the garage it was pitch black out.

I was tired and didn't even make 5K steps. And still had a full night of grading to do. Break can't come fast enough.

 

This is the Christmas cactus on my desk at work. And there is still some blooms on it.  Temperature and light must be perfect in the 19th century mansion. 

 And these are the office deco's. Usually there are artsy postcards on that wash line. Wanted to get a poinsettia to cover the stove pipe cover, but kept forgetting. Too late now.

Why am I showing you? Because I want to share how pretty it is. I live with the mean version of Scrooge. There is no Christmas joy at my house. Gotta take it where I can get it.

Today's plan. Walk downtown and take a pix of the peace candle. Yeah, it's more impressive at night, but, again, not walking in downtown Easton at night alone. I might be crazy but I am not a fool.

day 4 of 18

Sorry, not in the habit of posting everyday. I had the computer all shut down when I realized I didn't post. This is day 4 (but posted on 5).

The Bethlehem–South volkssport walk box is at the Comfort Suites in south Bethlehem.  I noticed after the group walk that the directions were very low. Yesterday I walked down to fill the box.

This is a great spot to take pictures at this time of year. The South Bethlehem Historic Society has an ethnic tree festival that installed after Thanksgiving and stays up through Epiphany. The fifteen or so Christmas trees features most of the countries that came to south Bethlehem to work at the Steel. Easy to identify one like Poland and Russia and England to countries and ethnic groups I've never heard of. It is really nice. It was near check-out time so the lobby was full of people looking.

The ornaments on each tree reflect the cultures and the countries. As does the items under the tree including the skirts. It's amazing how many different styles of nativities there were.

On the walk down I saw that someone decorated the fire escape with garland. If you want to see it, look across the street from Pete's. When I head down there again, I hope there is less traffic so I can get a picture. It probably is against safety regulations but it is pretty.

I took a pretty direct route to the Comfort Suites. And I came home up Monclair and Wyndotte streets. Shorter walks need more difficulty.

Todays walk is to the Fountain Hill Wawa. I'll take the scenic route.

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!

day 2 of 18

And I forgot to take a picture. Drats.

Today was the portfolio review at school. I ran around like a crazy lady. We were on the original (aka the barracks, or Hampton Winds) campus, and I walked over and back to the main campus three times.

My plan was to take the camera and take a picture of the second floor lounge where the kids paint the windows for the holidays. Some are Christmas. Some winter. Some Hanukkah. One window wins during the Winter Holiday Festival before exams.

Worked all day. Worked until a few minutes ago. Still got in nearly 13K steps. But there was so much food and grazed all day. I brought home 2 boxes of cupcakes and two zipper bags of cookies. they'll be going to work tomorrow. I can't leave them here.

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.

Not quite dead last, but finished.

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Yesterday was the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run/Walk. You read that right. A Half-Marathon with walk right there in the title where everyone can see it. About 20% of the athletes were walkers. How cool is that.

Walking coach Michele Stanten, who I worked with on several Rodale projects, organized the walking portion. Maybe next year she’ll get the 300 walkers she hoped for.

In addition Saturday night she organized a dinner for out of town walkers. I attended. Race-walkers attended from Wisconsin and Georgia. If she ever offers a race-walking seminar I’m going to take it. Don’t think my knees could handle more than one day.

This was different from other walks I’ve done. There were “pacers” 3, 3:15, 3:30 to 4:30. 4:30 was the time limit. My fitness friend Nora was the “sweep” bringing in the last walker at about 4:17. As a pacer, she left the walker cross the finish first.

It was cold. And windy—really windy. Which made it even colder. I had on long underwear, a shirt, a fleece and a jacket. I looked like the Michelin Man.

We arrived at 7 am, as required, then sat in the car. I was bored to tears so I left after 17 minutes. As long as I kept moving I was okay. Then Megan came, and Bonnie came last.

It seemed forever until they said start and we were off. Bonnie and Megan moved out ahead. I didn’t even try to keep up. I was sick all week. I also promised my sister Barb that I would not be a hero. Besides, they both had music on their phones. Talking wouldn’t happen.

I planned to try and stay with the 3:45 group. I walked with a couple for a half-mile, and then walked with a woman from Bethlehem for about 4 miles. I never got her name. She told me about a trial in Stockertown. Gonna check it out. It was her first half. For the first two miles I could see Bonnie and Megan ahead.

Once she moved ahead I walked the rest of the race mostly alone. All these people kept passing me. Then I saw a pacer and checked out her time. It said 3:45. Here I was killing myself and I was in the 3:30-group. Too late, I had already depleted my energy and I hoped not to fall behind the 4-hour group. I was not breathing deep. I didn’t realize how much energy it took to breath shallow.

Twice I was going to quit. If one more bike riding trail safety person asked if I was okay I think I would have said no.

I checked off landmarks that I knew—birdhouse fence, the skeleton on the bike in the tree (btw he has a friend now), farm animals in the yard, ect.

Mile 8 or 9 was really windy. I started to think of that old Paula Abdul song that has the refrain "two steps forward, one step back". 

At mile 11, the Slatington trailhead, the water guy offered me a Munchkin. A little bit of sugar was all I needed—and a restroom. I have never stopped for a bathroom before in a race. When I came out I saw the 4-hour pacer in front of me.

I knew there was only a little more than two miles left. I could do this.

Waiting for all the walkers at the finish line was Michele. She also came to visit on her bike. Also at the finish was Mulegellan, the D&L mascot. I bet s/he was warm! I crossed at about 4:03.xx. Slightly better than my Atlantic City half time of 4:06.xx. Then sent me an email with the total. I don’t remember it. Megan looked it up. I don’t remember that either. It was more than 4, past my goal, that’s the only thing I remember.

Bonnie finished slightly ahead of Megan at 3:47.xx. Bonnie swears this will be her last half. Also no more 10Ks. I’ll believe it when I see it.

The course appears flat, but anyone who has driven from Northampton  to Slatington knows that one is at the bottom of the mountain. The other at the top.  Imagine when we looked at our fit bits and saw we climbed 149 flights of stairs. Megan was way ahead at 190. How that is possible I don't know. Though by the time I synced mine it was 189. Maybe it was tired on the bus. I didn't have the energy to walk up to Wyandotte street to get 200.

Speaking of the shuttle bus. Every time we bounced it gave us a step! It thought we were moving.

Next weekend I have a half and a 10K. Heaven help me.

costochondritis and walking.

http://kcra-kw.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Costochondritis.gif

Monday I went to work. walked a bit at lunchtime. It was a beautiful day.

Came home and started feeling odd. Indigestion maybe? But I ate dinner and turned on the computer and went to class. By 10PM I felt like there was a man standing on my breast bone. And he wasn't invited. I shut off the computer and moved to the couch to watch The Blacklist.   Laying down was worse. Was I having a heart attack? I didn't know. Took my blood pressure. Perfect. Decided it was indigestion and found some generic pepcid that expired in 2012. I took it and went to bed.  By that time my whole left side hurt and my breast felt like bricks.

Tuesday I woke up. I was happy. I woke up. Not a heart attack but it was still there. I couldn't sneeze. Coughing was traumatic. As long as I didn't make any sudden moves I could function. We needed chicken to add to our leftover "rice surprise" (damn it was good) so I took the scenic route to Aharts. Walking up to Sioux street I was both fine and miserable. Walking up Fiot and 8th was even worse. I kept taking my pulse. Perfect. It felt like cracked ribs. The pain is sudden and sharp. The "little man" was really being a PIA and I lost all sense of concentration.

Driving to work I missed the school zone sign flashing. It was 4:00! I got a ticket. $169!!!

Since I was miserable, I decided to listen to the voice in my head and go to the doc in the box. Maybe it's Pneumonia. Maybe a heart attack. The horror visions were dancing in my head. And I have a half marathon Sunday. I decided to go after work. The stress of not knowing was killing me. I could hear Bonnie yelling, "stop being so cheap and go to the doctor". So I did. It's Costochondritis. A virus in the chest wall near the breast bone. There isn't a blasted thing you can do for it but take Aleve. 3 OTC=1 Rx. (I wasn't taking any pain meds because I didn't want to mask the symptoms.) The doc-in-the-box was $148. This is why I don't go to the doctor. It's just a money vacuum. On the up side my heart and lungs are healthy.


Did I mention there's a half-marathon on Sunday? One that I haven't really trained for? Not a good time to get sick. Have another one tomorrow.


Wednesday I walked at work a bit. But the Aleve was making me sick. Thursday I did very little. I drove Lydia to Lehighton and that took my walking time. My online class and my on ground class take up the day. Plus cooking dinner mid-afternoon.


Today I drove Miss Lydia to her home visits. Last week I went walking with Betsy. this week she wasn't available so I walked myself in a whole new neighborhood. The easiest way to explain it is the backside of the muni golf course. I'm guessing 50-60 'burbs. Lots of splits, ranches and amazing mid century architecture. When I was a kid I thought it was hideous. Now I think it's beautiful. I was about three blocks away when Lydia buzzed that she was done.

 Hand-painted, with a great view of the golf course.

 In front of an amazing mid-century house.

Multi-color ghosts.


My breathing was not normal during the walk. But I still have two days till the half. I cannot breath deep so pushing it might not be possible. But I breathed thru my nose the whole time. I rarely do that when walking. I'm an open mouth person.

I did promise my sister that I would not be a hero. I would get my ample butt in the sweep car  if I had to. I think if I pick a steady pace I should be okay. I will take two Aleve before I go. Don't want to lose my breakfast on the trail. Who am I kidding? Breakfast will be after the race. No personal records will be broken. I will use the full four and a half full hours if needed and the route is flat as a pancake.


Tomorrow we are walking on the D&L in the area of the marathon. The more familiar you are with a course, the better it is. Then after walking we'll go pick up our race gear. Michelle, the walking coach, is hosting a pre-race dinner on Saturday night.


If with my weak walking totals this month, I am still past 1000 miles for this Tail on the Trail Challenge. That is about six times around. The challenge ends Sunday.

corn maze

St. Luke's is the major sponsor of the Tail on The Trail challenge. Clearly they are also the sponsor of the Seiple Corn Maze also. So the Tail on the Trail sent us discount coupons for the maze. They said it was worth 2.5 miles. It was more like 5.

For the last two or three years I've gone to the maze at Raub's in Easton with my exchange students. It's been awhile since I was at Seiples. They have everything to keep you there a whole day and spend money. They probably make more this month than the rest of summer. There is a haunted house, animals,  rides, pumpkin patch, concessions and plenty of places for family photo ops. An autumn carnival of sorts.

Usually corn mazes have a fall or Halloween theme. This one was the St Luke's logo with extra stars for added confusion.  there was no map so you couldn't tell where you were. It was crazy.

Lydia is having a bit of a crisis right now, so instead of wallowing in her house, I forced her to come along. For two hours she didn't think about life's problems. I'm not a great problem solver but I'm a whiz with the band-aid.

Since the theme was St. Luke's, the stations all had to do with anatomy, wellness or services. I had Lyd take my pix at fitness. Seemed appropriate. I'd say the bulk of the stations were in the cluster of stars. We did a lot of circles looking for them.

In the end, we teamed up with another very young and cute couple to find the last station. I was five minutes from giving up.

 On my way out I made a new friend. And in typical 2014 fashion, I took a selfie.