costochondritis and walking.

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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.

lazy week

After a very active weekend, the week turned lazy, quick.

Monday is a horribly long day, but usually I get some walking in. This Monday, I didn't my step total was only 7800! That includes walking across campus at both Lafayette and Northampton. It was the last day of school for the term

Tuesday I ended up working and another stellar non-day. Worse than Monday it was only 5500! Bonnie and I thought we'd walk after work, but I had a long boring meeting and it was dinnertime when I called her. After dinner I parked my fat tush on the couch and did nothing. Totally turned off the brain. It was divine. Now if someone could tell me how Person of Interest ended I'd appreciate it. I really don't want to wait till September for the new season. Way to Orwellian for my taste this week.

Wednesday I didn't do much better. I could have gone back to Zumba, but I didn't.

Finally yesterday, Bonnie and I walked. We're kind of tired of the neighborhood so we tried to mix up the Ft. Hill walk. This time we headed up Bishopthorpe to Jeter, then made a stop at an old friends house to deliver a note. We backtracked to Graham and went up to the first entrance of the cemetery. Then we walked thru the cemetery and found the new "green" burial grounds near the top of the hill. We continued on the road and came out at the top-most point of Dotson. We turned onto Graham and went to Public, and came down Public to Broadway.

On Public I found these beautiful dogwood trees.

We came down Broadway, past Kids Peace (aka Wiley House)  and went up Dorothy to Moravian. Coming back down the hill and out Church, past the grade school (aka Ft. Hill High) to Frederick. Then we wove our way back down to Sioux and the alley. Then it was back up Clewell to Sioux and home.

I forgot to ask Bonnie how far we went, but for the first time in four days my FitBit was over 10K. Actually, it even went over 15K.

two bridges

Lydia took an old photo dump on Facebook Thursday. Let's call it Throwback Thursday, Extreme Edition. I told her about my walk thru the old 'hood Friday, and decided to show her our house. See, I told you it still looks the same.

The plan was to head over the Hill to Hill bridge, go around and come back the other side. Things don't ever go as planned.

We were walking under the bridge and decided to go to the historic district.  There still was some snow.

It was there where I saw this odd yellow sign. I have never seen one of these before. Have you? Maintenance? I've seen many a historic marker that was barely readable. I didn't know that they actually maintained them.

 From there we headed to Sand Island. Look, even after 60 degree days the canal is still frozen. That ice must have been thick.

Lyd headed for the restrooms. I headed for the pedestrian bridge. I wanted to check to see if that section of the path was open again. They were doing some construction there in late fall. It is done and the path is open. Now I'll need to go to the Hotel B this week and tear the detour tags off the Volkssport instructions.

Sadly plans to improve the west end of the park have been shelved. It was in yesterdays paper. That money was rerouted to the snow removal budget. Booooooo.

We headed up the stairs to the Fahy Bridge. Those stairs are narrow and steep. Lydia apparently hasn't been on the bridge since the sidewalk was closed. I wonder when they will ever fix it?

When we returned to the southside, we took a selfie with the Penn State Lion. This is the best we could get.

It took 2 hours to do 4 miles. Bonnie would have been getting antsy with all the stops.

a walk thru the old 'hood.

Friday it was pretty nice out. It was maybe 30. I couldn't walk with Betsy because I ended up having lunch with an old friend who was in town. About 3:30, I couldn't stand it any more I had to walk. Then the phone rang.

I didn't get out the door till nearly 4:30. But I got out. Thanks to the time change. (I told you it comes in handy.)

I walked to Ahart's for chips for Pat, and a couple basic veggies. I knew it was going to be leftover night and the leftovers were pretty heavy.  Then I went up the Fourth street hill to Seneca and out Seneca past the old house. It looks pretty much the same.

What doesn't look the same is the row next door where the Quigley's, the boy with Down's Syndrome, and the kid who painted the third floor with glue to get high, lived. Ah, the 60s. Someone must have bought the whole row and stripped off the porches. Looks like they are gutting and remodeling. Even the windows look like they are being replaced. Next time I'm going out the alley and checking out the back.

Then I headed down Bishopthorpe and home.

During the entire walk I felt like I needed to be picking up litter. The streets are a mess since the snow melted. All the trash that blew out of cans and got buried. Your basic litterbugs. The pieces of old porch furniture that were used to hold parking spots. Broken recycle bins. Get out the brooms people!

must. stop. eating. frozen. treats.

It has been beautiful the past two or three days in the Lehigh Valley. Perfect weather for walking. No excuses allowed.

Today at lunch my colleague and I walked down to center square, and back. I wish I would have taken my camera. The new Crayola Experience exterior is visually terrific. (I borrowed this pix Lydia took a couple weeks ago from her FB page!). Actually that whole block is starting to come back to life. I love when a city revitalizes.

The alley side of the building is a huge Crayola mural. Next time we walk down I'll take the camera.

While I was walking I planned an Easton walk for the Volkssporters. I bet it's a 10K, or darn close. We'll see.

We headed down Bank Street to go to the Purple Cow Creamery. Bank Street Creamery. Same place. New name. Long story. They weren't open yet. Whoo Hoo. Calories saved! we turned the corner and discovered Frozenlandia. It looked like a chain, but it's locally owned and operated. Just one store. Could have fooled me. Frozen yogurt has to be slightly more healthy than ice cream. Less fat at least. They have these huge cups and they sell by the ounce. It's self serve. 49 cents an ounce. You could easily have a $10 cup if you are not careful. Especially when adding toppings. Mine was a hair over 4 ounce. I mixed pomegranate raspberry with wild, wild berry. It tasted like pomegranate and strawberry. Quite lovely. but I must stop eating frozen treats. It's becoming a habit. All walks lead to a frozen treat.

After dessert—I still hadn't eaten lunch—we had to walk back up College Hill. Hopefully that burned two or three of the calories I just ate.

Tuesday and Wednesday we also walked around College Hill. Last night I went to Zumba. The people are always the same. I really only know one persons name beside the instructor. Last night a woman came up to me with a pretty accent. She also walks, and apparently often follows me, but can't catch up. She asked where "I lived" and I said "Bishopthorpe". "So do I" she replied.  "One way or two way side"? "One way" and she gave me the number. We live about a half block from each other. We'll be walking home together from now on. But not the next two weeks. No Zumba. Gladys is on vacation.

No walk with Betsy and Bonnie tomorrow. I've borrowed a child and am going to Muhlenberg Summer Theatre's Suessical. Can't wait.

picking up race packets

Betsy opted for Black Friday shopping with her daughter, so I walked alone today. I needed to pick up our race packets for the Turkey Trot at the Luckenbach Mill.

What is a race packet? It's usually a plastic bag with your bib, pins, t-shirt and a lot of crap from the sponsors. Sometimes you get a granola bar, or some Mike and Ikes, but it's basically worthless stuff. You come home and recycle the bulk of it.

The mill was busy when I got there, and when they found me I was on the list four times! They asked if I registered online and I said no. I did it the old fashion way with a check. I have no idea what''s happening.

So I decided I wanted to walk home the Fahy Bridge. There was a sign I wanted to take a photo of. When I arrived in town, the Christmas Village was set up, and suddenly the walk turned into a photo essay.

If you know Bethlehem, You'll be able to follow my path. Sorry, the sun was in my way in many photos. Should have left earlier.

 The new star in the middle of Main Street. Traffic was a nightmare as they built it.

 Several groups were playing Christmas music on the corners.

 Christmas Village. Just like in NYC. Three areas of downtown.

 The city tree and nativity. Sorry about the sun.

 The mayor's tree. Decorations made by school kids. Clearly they needed a ladder.

 Overlooking the Fahy Bridge.

 Someone lost their bear.

 Japanese garden

 Ghost bike.

 It's a bridge. Yes, they want you to walk in the street. It's safer than the sidewalks.

 Under the bridge.

 Adams Street.

 The up and down 5 & 10.

 Massage parlor.

Old firehouse, now a bar.

Redbox at Ahart's. Wanted a movie. Couldn't make it work. It didn't like my card. I miss video stores.

irt

Today we did the large loop on the Ironton Rail Trail (IRT). It's a great trail and we've walked it several times.

We left Bonnie's at 7 am and it was not hot, but it was humid. Right now it's 77 at 75% humidity. Ick.

The Boy Scouts have been busy making all kinds of improvements for the Eagle projects. How do I know? They leave signs by their improvements! (The RR X-ing sign that Bonnie is standing in front of is one of them.)

My favorite improvement is the mural that covers an old cement support.Not sure if that is done or not, but there is no sign.

Another favorite was done by a trail side neighbor. They decorated the back of the shed, and added a ticket taker.

When we arrived, I turned down the wrong street so instead of parking in the lot we parked in a neighborhood. Since we are training for the half-marathon we tried to do it at almost race speed. We succeeded. That loop is just over 5.5 miles and we were done in just over 1-1/2 hours.

Now I just need to get my butt out there and do it again tomorrow!

Meanwhile, I need to take a shower. I'm off to Girl Scout Camp Moseywood in less than an hour.

dog tales

I live in a small city, on what some might call the wrong side of town. I love it, most of the time. What I don't love is the dogs.

I'm not much of a dog person. I had a really bad experiences in my teens and then my 20s with dogs. And with the exception of Logan, Izzy and Harry I could live without them.

Living in an urban environment, everyone has dogs. Not cute furry dogs, but big dogs like retrievers, mean guard dogs or those yappy little Taco Bell dogs. Each spring I re-learn where the rottweilers, pitbulls, and dobermans live. And then avoid them.

There's one house I cannot avoid. I have to pass it to go home. They have some sort of small furry matted brown dust mop things that bark from the minute they see you coming to well after you've left. But they don't just bark. They spin in circles and jump much higher than the rickety fence. They snarl. They nash. They terrify me. And the owners make no attempt to shut them up or discipline them. I am certain one day I will come home with one attached to me as it flies to attack me. They are insane.

Today Sharon and I walked. They were already in full psycho mode when we got there. A man was across the street walking his very well-behaved dog.  So I said to Sharon, "lets cross the street, those dogs scare the heck out of me". A voice replies "Me too. That's why we're on this side of the street."

He was 6'4" and walking a pitbull.