walking thru christmas lights

My walking streak broke on Monday. It did not surprise me. Work days are tough. Add to that all the rain we had this week and little has gotten done. But I am not complaining. I don't have to shovel it.

I will not make my goals this week. Oh well. Such is life.

Tuesday I didn't walk much at all except at school. I was up to my elbows in grading. Three classes will close soon.

Wednesday was a work day but I planned to go to the Holiday Lights at the zoo after work with Angel's family. It was an adventure. I went right after work, she's less than two miles from campus. Somehow I invited myself for dinner. It was delicious. then off we went.

We left in two cars, and dropped mine at the Hellertown Park and Ride. No need to go all the way back to Easton. Then I hopped into their car and we headed to Schnecksville. And drove right past Game Preserve Road. Ultimately Angel had to launch the GPS on her phone. When we turned onto Game Preserve Road, she turned it off. I guess she shouldn't have. We drove past the entrance. Clearly the zoo is used during the day and nobody thought to put lights on the signs.

Turning into the driveway we were greeted by trees covered in lights. But it wasn't like lights in the Parkway. Just a little bit now and then. And the view from the top of the hill was great. We finally arrived at the zoo, but not until we made one last wrong turn.

I was glad I brought my winter coat. It was cold. The zoo is a circle so you can't get lost. The child kept looking for the animals. As we walked we rained on  with glitter lights. It was cool.

 We made gingerbread cookies, built an igloo from foam cubes and met the Grinch. Max wasn't there.

As a Hendricks, my knees don't work right. At some point in time I'll probably have to get new ones. When the Grinch invited us in his cave, the child wasn't me to come. Sure! Why not? I bent over and squatted and my knees didn't work. I couldn't move my legs. An hour in the cold played havoc on them. I could have gotten on the ground and crawled in, but I had new-to-me trousers on. Finally I got in. Of course, then I had to get out. I ended up dropping to the ground.

Then there are these giant snow globes. I managed to go in. I even managed to stand up. But when I left, I stuck one leg out and somehow lost my balance and fell. Thankfully the snow globe held me up. But too much air came out as I struggled to get up so they needed to help the child out. Note to self: stay out of real or imagined caves and blow ups.

When it was over I visited Santa and the Mrs. (Sorry Bud. Next week, promise.) The child didn't. She talks to people in costume. She wanted to do the loop again, but mom said no. It was 8:15 on a school night.

Yesterday, minimal walking. I was a bit sore from the walk. But mostly, I was grading. Today Betsy and I did our Friday walk.

lights in the parkway 5k

It was the perfect night for a 5k. Not too cold. Not too warm. And we met a potential new friend.

I know Nora thru the Sugar Crusher program. We've never met. Until tonight. We've been talking on FB thru the groups page, and then we became "friends". We met her in person tonight at the park. Coming from Montgomery County, she beat us there. We left a little later and got stuck in the parking traffic jam.

She was surprised we could take a selfie with three people. Heck we can do it with five!

I'm glad we took the headlights. It was about a half mile walk to the parkway. Once we turned the corner, it was dark. We needed to turn them on. We needed them during the race in one section also. 

There was a lot of people there. We headed for the start line, and I tried to take pictures. I tripped over a guide wire. Swell.

We kept walking and walking to get to the end of the start line. It took three and a half minutes to cross the START line.

We headed up the hill, and around the police academy. There were no lights in this area. Then we came back and under the stone bridge to the lights. We followed the creek path, to the iron bridge. We crossed the iron bridge, made a loop, and then headed up to the 15th street entrance. Looped around again, and came back the road, and back up the hill.

Bonnie finished in about 47 minutes. Nora and I in about 49. We have to wait for official numbers to know the real times.I'm sure this time is much better than my times in 2010.

Saturday we'll be walking in Slatington, and then doing a Christmas greens workshop at the nature center.

Wednesday is the Sugar Crushers test panel get together. Can I lose 10 pounds by Wednesday? We will be getting the books. That was fast. The Walk Your Butt Off book took nearly two years. But then eliminating sugar is the hot diet trend right now.

a 10k for my birthday

Fifty eight. How the hell did that happen? Soon I shall be old. Golly I don't like that. I will be beating off old age as long as I can, and walking is one of those sticks.

Yesterday we went to the walking festival in Hershey. It's an annual Volkssport thing where you get to pick from several races and several distances. We chose the Candy Cane 10K. It goes all around Hershey and thru the park.

We were only about 1.5 miles into the walk when we found Santa hiding behind a tree. He see's the trolley and makes a run for it. They left him on. It was hysterical.

Lydia didn't feel good from the get-go. It was around this point she became sick. She took the car keys and headed back. Bonnie and I went on alone. The route was different this year. Much better actually. And we made some decent time.

We got Lyd at the car and went to sign in. It was then when I discovered I had 30 walks completed and could send my book in to HQ. While I was there I purchased my new book. Exciting. I also met the lady who sent me money back when I paid too much for a walk. And I met the lady from the postal nightmare back in early October.

Lydia, being an overgrown child, wanted to go to Chocolate World. On black Friday. We went. We stood in the long line and took the ride with the silly singing cows. The line went fast—10-15 minutes. And we found out that Bonnie had never done it before.

 At one point the cow tells you to smile for the camera. Above is the result. Bonnie purchased the digital version from the photo booth. Clearly someone had just pinched me.

 When we came out the lights were on in the amusement park. One nice thing about Hershey is they give you plenty of space to play and take pix and shop before you even get to the entrance. We checked out the lights we could see and then found the Reese's man for Lydia. We took her picture for her Christmas card then headed to dinner.

It was 5:00 when we arrived at the restaurant. The line was going out the door. It was a half-hour wait. I cannot imagine what it's like at 6:30.  While we were waiting, the TV advertised a Reese's martini. Lyd ordered it. (Yes, I know she was sick earlier.  I certainly wouldn't have done it. )

Finally, it was time to end the day at Sweet Lights. Hershey's version of Lights in the Parkway. It is so much better than ours. It's too miles of sensory overload. Bonnie even put on one of the Sirus Christmas stations. Lydia was hanging out the window trying to take pixs, but most were fuzzy.

Speaking of Lights in the Parkway. We'll be doing a 5K there Wednesday night. Yeah, no Zumba.

Excuse me but I have the right away

Everyone recognizes this light. It's a walk light. On some of the versions, not this one, the little white man looks like he's scratching his butt. You see him., you walk. If you see the evil red hand, you cool your heels until the little man comes back. Every 5 year-old knows this.

If you are driving a vehicle. And someone is crossing the street, especially with the little white man and a cross walk, the pedestrian has the right of way. Do they not? They sure do when I'm driving.

Today I was nearly hit.

I was crossing at the flat iron building and had the "go" signal. Broadway to Broadway. The person who almost hit me was going 4th to 4th. I don't know if the light was green or red. Does it really matter? But he was going pretty fast for "right on red". Most people at least slow down. Your supposed to stop.

Now I'll admit I was in a hurry. I parked the car, put money in the meter, saw the little man, and double timed it into the street. I'll admit I didn't look. Maybe I should have. I was in a cross walk, with the go signal, and in my world pedestrians have the right of way. PERIOD.

The official word: The Pa. Driver/Pedestrian Law: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Pedestrian/web/laws.htm