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.

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.

short, but hilly

Today was another day where I was on my butt all day. A 2+ hour drive, a very long hairdresser appoint, and a fun trip to the car dealer. At about 1:15 I looked at my FitBit and I was still under 1.5K.

I was exhausted and had nothing to show for it. I finished what I was doing on the computer, and announced I was going out.

"Again?"

"Yes, I need to walk, My total is under 1.5K. That's horrible."

"You are just doing that to get away from me. I annoy you." [True, but not the reason I was going.]

Since I didn't have much time till it was back in the car for another 2-hour drive, I decided to do hills. I went up Fiot, down Wyandotte, up Eighth, down Brodhead, out Summit, up Wyandotte and home. Not very far but FitBit gave me 22 stairs, so it was pretty aerobic.

While I was out they were spraying saline for tomorrow's storm.

50% walkers at the spartan spirit 5k

Today was the Spartan Spirit 5K at the college I work at. There was probably only about 100 people, and almost half of them were walkers. So cool.

Sam Spartan came (the mascot), and there were students helping. But what was nice was this is the first race that I can remember that was really diverse. Makes sense at a community college. It always puzzles me why the turn out at these things is overwhelmingly white. If you watch any track meet, that is not the case.

If I had to guess a lot of the walkers were faculty. Not many students. I had asked my students Thursday night if any of them were doing the race, and they said no, that 9 am is way too early in the morning. One pm would be nice—First thing in the morning. Clearly there is a generational gap.

I think the college didn't hire a race company. It was all volunteer. Another reason why it was so cheap. I think they used the timing equipment from the track team.

Runners were timed. Walkers were not. The trophies were made at the fab lab —my happy place on campus. The t-shirts featured my design. I offered them 4, they picked the one I liked least, but oh well.

We all gathered inside and out, and then walked over to what appeared to me as the finish line. One chute said runners, the other walkers. They did speeches and the girl was singing the Star Spangled Banner and mid-way through a air horn went off. We were at the wrong line! Everyone moves.

Finally it begins. We looped the parking lots and then headed out to Green Pond Road. The girl behind me says to her friends. "I have air." They ask her what she meant and she said it was the first race since giving up smoking and she could breather. Kind-of cool.

Near the end of Green Pond we turned into Moravian Academy and looped around their campus. At times the"air" girl passed me, and then I passed her again. At this point she was behind me. I hear, "I'm out of air." Her friend said something like you can't turn around years of smoking in a couple weeks. She never passed me again, but she did finish shortly after I did.

I have no idea what my time was. There wasn't a clock and I don't wear a fancy watch or use a smart phone.

Other Odds and Ends:
I didn't buy the bridge photos. They cost the kings ransom. 

My fitbit is still acting wonky. At 8 am, it said 5:09 pm. And was still counting my numbers from yesterday. I'm going to try and reboot it tonight. I think it started celebrating Lehigh-Lafayette a little early ....

Not quite dead last, but finished.

-->

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.

fall walking festival

Today Bonnie and I headed to Penn State for the bi-annual fall walking festival. We arrived at about 9:30 and were walking by 10.

The first walk was a 10K. It started at the host hotel—a Super 8—and wove thru town to the University. The hills were plentiful and the street signs lacking. At one point we became off course but quickly corrected ourselves.

The campus is huge. It makes Lafayette and Lehigh look like a grade school. Probably three miles was on campus. I have never been on a closed campus with that many buses.

On the way back to the hotel we walked past a farmer's market. I had wondered why so many students had flowers. What astounded me is that 75% of the farmers were Mennonite/Amish. In North Central Pennsylvania. South Central would be a totally different story.

Then it was off to Boalsburg for a 5K. Boalsburg is the birthplace of Memorial Day.

The walk began at the Pennsylvania Military Museum. Then we headed across the street to visited the "ladies" in the cemetery. Crossing the street was a half mile away! Then we were off to see Chris Columbus and a mansion, but alas, they were closed for the season. Next we walked the original highway, then back the new one. The final section of the trail took us into town. We bagged it and looked at the military museum property. Lots of tanks. Lots of cannons. Lots of memorials like Gettysburg. We couldn't go in the museum because we didn't bring money.

After checking in at the Super 8, and turning on the computer, I discovered I earned a new fit bit badge. I'm now flying high in a hot air balloon after climbing the equivalent of two thousand stairs.

Tomorrow, two more walks. Then the long drive home. We are not staying for day three.

fitness friday

When I get up I grab my Fitbit and my glasses—they have an illicit relationship and sleep together.  Usually I clip the fitbit to my jammies and run around doing morning things. Then switch it to my clothes for the day. I didn't do that yesterday. It was a bout 12:20 when I realized it. It registered less than 500 steps.

Thankfully I discovered it before my walk with Betsy. We did our normal 3 miles in her neighborhood. I did a few errands than headed home.

At 5 I met up with Bonnie and Megan and we headed to Coca Cola Park for the Bacon Challenge. It's a 5K where half way thru you consume a 1/2 pound of bacon. We all opted out. Nothing makes me want to vomit more than the thought of chugging a half pound of cold bacon and then racing.

When we arrived, Megan sent a text to Lyd.  Lyd and Dawn were already there, and Dawns friend Cindy met us a bit later, We had a big group. Dawn wanted to know where the baby was. "He's part of the team now." Luckily he was home with daddy.

Cindy was nervous. Her first 5k. We did our best to assure her everything was okay. She'd finish and she wouldn't die. I took a before shot, and promised a finish shot. But of course that stupid camera died. Again. So I had Megs take it with her phone. Dawn and Lydia stayed with her and they finished in 61 minutes. And they were not last!

The course never left the ballpark. We started in front of the main gate, and went down the hill to the American Parkway and back up again. The head east and circled those lots, and entered the ball park and looped around the concourse.  We left the stadium by the lower gate then headed toward the west parking lots behind the Western Electric building. (I have no idea what the current name is. It changes yearly.) This is where people stopped to eat bacon. We heard little good about it. I'm guessing about 10% of the people went in the pass-by lane.  You could not leave the bacon lane till you finished. I did not see a vomit bucket.

After circling the west parking lots we headed down that hill to American Parkway, back up and followed the road at the rear of the stadium. I thought we'd enter then by the pork racer door, but no, they had us pork racer the lot first. Then we entered the field and looped of the dirt path.

I had managed to catch up to Bonnie several times, but when we entered the door, she went into finish line mode and kicked it into high gear. Bonnie is now a half block ahead and I hear running behind me. It's Megan. I yelled "Megan is running." Bonnie looked back and started running too. NOBODY, not even her baby, will beat Bonnie. She crossed 1.9 seconds before Megan. I finished in my typical spot 20 seconds behind.

Bonnie 49:02
Megan 49:03.9
Gayle 49:22.8
Dawn 61:35.5
Cindy 61.36.6
Lydia 61.37.5

My fitbit was at about 18K when I returned home. I would have made 20, or maybe even 25 had I remembered to put it on in the morning.

a walk on the D&L

Thursday Bonnie, Megan, the Wee One, and I walked again to the south side farmers market. We took the scenic route through Fountain Hill to get there.  Again I bought heavy food. Will I ever learn. This time it was a giant head of cauliflower. I almost wished I would have had a knife with me. I could have cored it and left all the leaves there. It probably would have weighed half as much.

I had mail to take to the post office. I put it in my grocery sack to carry it for the first part of the walk. At the farm stand, I took it out, but needed to set it down to get money out. I was nearly to Broughal when I realized I left my mail (and Bonnie's mail) at the farm stand. I ran walked back and it was still there.

Next stop, the post office. I needed to mail the letters, and buy 100 stamps. They have no machine at that branch. There were two people in line and the person in front of me looked aggravated. I can see why. The person in front of him had 50 letters and each one needed to be weighed individually. Because it was lunch time there was only one clerk on. Bonnie and Megan though I got lost.

We finally reconnected and walked home. We were about 2 blocks away when the Wee One decided he no longer wanted to be in his stroller.

Friday I walked with Betsy early in the morning. then Pat and I headed up to the Monroe campus to see the faculty art show.

Yesterday, we all did the D&L tow path from Bethlehem to Freemansburg.  It was advertised as 6 miles. It was a little longer. An no, I didn't get the uniform memo.

We started at the ice house and headed east thru Sand Island to the D&L. The weeds on the side of the trail are giant. You can see that in the group picture. The narrow portion of the trail is very narrow. We arrived at the first Freemansburg bridge in about an hour. We only had one stop with the baby. He was not a happy hiker and cried a lot. By Freemansburg he was asleep.

Megs, Bonnie and I wanted to climb the stairs to the bridge. Lydia didn't. So she took the baby and walked ahead. We'd catch up.

Back when mama was alive if we gave her a grocery cart, she forgot all about her arthristis and flew thru the store like she had wings. Apparently Lydia is the same with a stroller. I had to run to pass her to take the picture. She stopped so Bonnie and Megs were able to catch up.

Megan took over the stroller until we reached the Minsi Trail bridge and the same thing happened. We climbed, she took the baby and flew away.

By the time Lydia gave him back at Sand Island he was awake and unhappy.  Megan took the stroller and kept moving. But he was over the stroller.

When we returned to the road I took him out and I gave him my piggies hat. And we walked back to meet Lydia. She had climbed down some stairs to get a picture of the Steel.  We took selfies. He didn't understand. But he was quiet. In the distance I could see Megs and Bonnie coming down the Fahy bridge stairs. I gave them back the baby and I climbed them. All in all it was about 7 miles.

Bathrooms, according to Lyd were an I-3.5.

When we arrived home, we took Adonis out for another 1/2 mile.

Later in the afternoon, I went out for another mile or so. My total for the day was 20K steps, and 25 stairs.

fitness challenge 6 -- water exercise

Today I went with Bonnie to her deep water exercise class. This activity isn't really new to me. I tried it 30 years ago at the YMCA on Broad Street. I enjoyed it then. I enjoyed it now.

(Yes I am wearing bike shorts and an exercise top. Bonnie did offer me a suit. That won't happen. Ever. Unless it has legs.)

Modern Aqua exerciseis much more sophisticated. We used empty milk and juice bottles with the caps glued on for resistance. They have actually aqua dumbbells now! No trash can with milk bottles in different sizes. They come in different sizes ( like the pix I borrowed from the net). Actually I think the milk bottles were harder to use and provided more resistance.


It was okay. Lots more water running and leg work that I anticipated. The pool had four classes going on and I really just wanted to sneak into the 4 foot pool and do that one. It looked much more difficult and more like what I remembered. But there was a substitute teacher. So that changed things a lot.

The pool is on the Cedar Crest campus. It might be something I try again, but I'm lazy and that is way to far to travel. Guess I should check out the Y!

It's nearly 3:00 and I've only got about 3000 steps on my pedometer. I'm going to Musikfest later to pick up Bug and see some Polynesian dance troop. Hopefully, I can bring that total up to 10K.

an expensive day

Last night I did a last chance workout on the hills of Fountain Hill to burn off some weight. I walked up Bishopthorpe, Findlay, Benner, Bergen and Fredrick. The shocking part was that each hill registered the same on the Fitbit 8 or 9. Those hills are not created equal! Especially Frederick which registered 8. All in all I got 56
for the whole day. My goal is 25.

In anticipation of the weigh in, I weighed myself at home this morning: 224. Yikes! I broke the rule about not going back to another set of 10 after I was out. Not good.

At the weigh in I was 222. AND I gained inches. Except in my waist.

I broke my sunglasses when I fell at the recycle center. All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put those glasses back together again. And it was time to make an appointment. Today was the day. Bonnie joined me. Apparently I have had the same basic style of frame since the bronze age. It was time for a change. (What I really want is to be rich so I could have several pairs!)

The exam went well—none of the evil eye diseases are present. Thank goodness. Do not want to do that needle in the eye or drop thing forever like my sister. And my vision really didn't change so I could have saved the $100 on the exam. Oh well. Two new pairs of glasses set me back a little more than a grand. Ouch. Of course we picked the second most expensive frames in the store. I always do.

Afterwards Bonnie and I went to Full Of Crepe for breakfast. Bonnie's was gluten free (vegan also available). They didn't come on a plate. They are street style and come in a paper and cardboard cone that you peel. Yummy but very messy.  Since we were there at 10:30 it wasn't busy. The chef said when the students get back lunch rush starts about 11.

The crepes were huge. It had three different berries, mascarpone cheese and lemon curd.  You can choose sweet or savory and even make your own.

After lunch I walked with Betsy. Since Barb arrives today Bonnie's family stayed home. We did the typical 3 miles in her surburban 'hood.

Then I went to Patient First for BP meds. My doctor is MIA and I have no refills left. When I first started this adventure I went to a Dr. Jones at the doc-in-the-box.  4-5 years later she has landed at Patient First. Their website said she'd be on duty at 3. It's right by Betsy's.

I weighed 224 there. And my BMI is 33. My blood pressure was 126/65. Whooo Hoo. She also gave me the mamogram / dolonoscopy / ect lecture. Patient First is like a little hospital. They do blood, RX, xrays, the whole 9 yards. They are also sick expensive—$148. And that's without my RX. Yowza.  Need to find a regular doctor....again.

Tomorrow is the Moon Walk. Still on the fence about going. I posted the problem on FB. Clearly nobody cares. Only 2 people gave me feedback.

Regardless, Lydia and I will be doing one of the Bethlehem Volkssport walks tomorrow.

my old fitbit has a new home

Everyone knows how I love to recycle, repurpose, reuse. I call it being environmentally responsible. Others call it cheap. Still others say the acorn didn't fall far from the tree.

As you know from a previous post, I left my Fit Bit in Pennsylvania before my walking vacation. So as an impulse I went to radio Shack and bought a new one (see, I'm not cheap!). Because I had my laptop, I didn't sync it. It turned out to be a wasted purchase because none of the data saved. Oh well. I've always wanted this model.

Bonnie has one. Megan has one. So I decided to give this one to Lydia. I ordered her the green case. Nothing I can do about it being pink. She downloaded the program to her laptop, and her phone. We personalized it. We set her initial goal to 6000 steps a day. We'll slowly take that up to 10K. And maybe higher. I've just set mine at 12,500. Heaven help me.

She started using it about noon, so today will be a wash. Tomorrow, we'll see how it goes. Hope she remembers to put it on!

you don't do much walking making balls.

In my town there is a huge music festival every August. It has a fairly large art component to it. This year the local knitting store is planning to yarn bomb it.

It takes a lot of hands and a lot of yarn to do this. So they have started three months early. When I took my sisters panels in the other day they already had garbage bags filled with panels.  They will also hang pom poms from the tree and maybe a foot bridge, to make it even more festive.

I love public art. I love to participate in it. I had to do this. What I didn't realize is how much time it takes.

Or maybe, I didn't realize how much time I spend walking ever day. Last night when I removed my FitBit I wasn't even to 5000 steps. On a Wednesday! Why, Because I was making pom poms from all my leftover yarn. To the point where there is nothing left in the yarn bins. I've even used up the roomies scraps. (I'm fairly sure she is close to being a hoarder. A foot long piece of yarn shouldn't be saved.) I am down to my last basket of yarn. That should be gone tonight.

Bonnie is still sick, or sick of walking, so I was left to my own devices again today. At noon I walked to the south Bethlehem Farmer's Market. I got some organic snow peas, beans, and kale. I also got the tallest asparagus in the world.

Walking home I came straight out Broadway. When I reach Aunt Dorthy's alley the skies opened up. I was drenched when I returned home.

worst. walking. week. ever.

Clearly the ravages of our snowy winter are taking a toll on my walking adventures. It's not safe to drive, yet alone walk. The snow piles in my neighborhood are so high you can't see over them. The streets are plowed one lane wide, and the cars are sticking out into the road. The sidewalks are shoveled but the snow piled at the corners are like mountains to climb. It's a big unsafe mess out there.

And my pedometer shows it. 52% on a Friday! I'm at 52% on a Tuesday. By Friday I'm usually past 100%. Finishing around 125%

My brother Dave has read my snow posts and sent me  a couple messages this week about totals. I thought I'd share them. From the 17th ...

"Looked at your blog. Not sure if you are counting this winter season's snow or just 2014. Here are the figures for highest season snowfall.

4th: 2013-2014 (65.4 inches)
3rd: 1966-67 (67.2 inches.)  If we get 2 or more tonight/Tuesday we move into 3rd
2nd: 1993-94 (71.8 inches)
1st: 1995-96 (75.2 inches)  Note, this is just under 10 inches away and could easily be done this year."

 Then on the 18th, after yet another snowfall,

"Just checked, official total at the airport was 1.3 inches so we are now at 66.7. We came up a half inch short of moving into 3rd. Now we are 8.5 from the record."

Another storm is headed our way. Maybe we will make it. I love snow. I just want some of the old stuff to melt before we get new!

But it began to get warmer yesterday, and the snow piles are compressing. Things should be getting better. I can see my neighbors house now. Today it's raining. So that will compress the piles also.

Today we had planned to do the Iron Rail Trail, we heard it was plowed. But with the rain we won't.

Tomorrow we're doing the Warm Hearts 5K. It was supposed to be in Nazareth, but the borough pulled the plug because it would be unsafe with the high snowpiles and the narrow roads. It's been relocated to an industrial park.  It's for heart research and is on my nephews birthday. He had heart issues, so it makes it very appropriate.

Sunday, maybe we'll tackle Ironton. It's supposed to be in the 50s.

my 2013 fitbit report

I use a FitBit tracker to track my steps. Best. Pedometer. Ever.

Every week they send me my report. I can also look online. Weekends are high. Workdays sometimes very low. I've been using it since January of last year. The year end report is fun. So I thought I'd share it.

I bet I would have made it to 2000 if I didn't have interruptions. There was three. A week were it was wonky and they sent me a new one. A couple days when the battery was dead. And when I lost it in Collegeville at a Volkssport walk.

fifth day of christmas

Lydia and I tried to walk this morning. With little success.

It was not raining when she left Northampton. It was pouring when she arrived.

We tried going out with umbrellas, but started getting soaked, so we came back. At least Adonis got a walk.

Last night I tried to up my step count by walking and reading. Back and forth from the office to the downstairs bathroom and making circles around the kitchen table.  I managed to squeak my total steps up over 7500. I did not succeed in making the 70K goal for the week. I think it's the first time.

On the other hand, I am reading, and drawing, and recharging my batteries. Maybe that's important too.

saturday, the main event

4:45 am came early yesterday. The sleepy half-marathoners got up and dressed and headed out of the hotel at 5:30. We —Bonnie, Megan (with a foot injury), Lydia and I—were not alone. The lobby of the hotel was filled with half-marathoners.

It was cold out when we left.

We arrived at to Presque Isle at 5:40, and to the parking area at 6. There was a steady stream of traffic headed in. When we arrived at the designated parking, the lot looked filled. We didn't want to go to the next lot. Who wants to walk more? Lucky for us they opened more spaces in the front of the lot. Yeah us. Briefly, we had a front row spot.

They asked us to arrive an hour early, and we did. But we didn't want to stand around in the cold. So we sat in the car until 6:45. The sun was up and it was considerable warmer.

Traffic must have been really backed up. They didn't start the race till 7:20. Bonnie of course took off with a start, leaving the rest of us in her dust. I managed to catch up to her by the half mile mark. My goal was to stay caught up till mile 9. I did, but it was exhausting.

Megan and Lyd walked together the first four miles. Then they split up. The race went from one end of the island to the other and back. The turn point was about 6.5 miles. I think we had passed 7 when we heard Lyd on the other side of the bushes. She was a mile to a mile and a half behind.

I kept losing and catching up to Bonnie. She had made friends with the walkers in front of us—Dr. Brian, Uncle Bob and the son. Dr. Brian makes Bonnie look slow. But she never lost a beat. Me, I lost many and had to power walk often to keep up.

By mile 9 I couldn't keep up any more. She went ahead and soon was out of site. A little while later I saw Megan talking to her.  Where did she come from?

Soon Bonnie took off and I caught up with Megs, we finished the race together. I can't remember times, but Bonnie was around 3:31 and came in third in her age group.  Megan and I came in around 3:34. When we finished I had Megs call Lydia. She had just crossed 11 miles and wanted to give up. Her hip pain was back. Megan yelled into the phone "YOU ARE NOT GIVING UP. Aunt Gayle will meet you at mile 12."

And I did. We walked the last mile or so together.

After the race we went to Bob Evans for a huge breakfast. Then we went to the movies.

I also earned my 35,000 steps badge on FitBit. I can't possibly see how I'd have a 40K day unless I did the one day hike again.

30k steps!

Yesterday, I took my sister home and for some reason looked at my pedometer. It was 28k+. It was about 6-7 pm. Could I actually reach 30K in one day?

Then I forgot about it.

Last night I was getting ready for bed and looked at my daily total. I was less than 300 shy. I was not going to let this opportunity pass. So I walked up and down the hall and thru my bedroom, back in forth, for 300 steps. When I went to bed it was 30,005. Milestone achieved.

Will I reach 35k on half-marathon day? We'll see.

This morning Bonnie and I headed out for a 5 mile walk. It started to rain, and then stopped, then started, and ultimately only did about 2-3/4 miles. We were soaked when we got home.

I spent the rest of the day working, or working in the garden.

While I was in the garden, my nephew who's 11 asked if he could "play on my computer". I told him it wasn't a toy. He was unhappy.

rain, rain, go away

I love rain. And snow. And pretty much any weather event that does not send me soaring into the atmosphere like Dorothy to Oz. Although, if Oz was a guaranteed destination, I might rethink it.

This morning was another morning of torrential downpours. Sadly, none of the water is going into the ground, it is coming down too fast. It's just heading for the sewers and the rivers. (Left is Willy Wonka's chocolate river, aka the mighty Delaware.)

All the storms lately did motivate me to call the roofer to check the roof. The insurance company to review my insurance, and start looking for someone to point my foundation. Know any good masons?

Yesterday was beautiful. I walked around campus twice. Once in the morning while the servers were down. The second at lunch time. Then in the evening I headed the big five blocks to Zumba. I'm perplexed. I can't do it, and maybe do only 40% of what the others do. Should I continue to do it? It isn't fun. But it isn't torture either. I don't like it, but I don't dislike it. I like the people. And it's one less hour to spend with the roomie. Am I wasting my $6 a week? See what I mean. When I ask myself WWJD (what would Jillian do) the answer is stay. Maybe I should try and find a free Tai Chi class. I liked that. Or yoga. Wait, I can't do that either. All questions. No answers.

Lydia called last night. She wanted to know if the roomie wanted a furry friend for the day. If there isn't a downpour when I get home, I'll take Adonis for a walk. If it's not raining after supper, I'll go with Lyd for a walk.  My pedometer isn't even at 5,000 yet, and I walked at lunch. Office jobs are heck on your activity level.