Thanks to poor dental hygiene, researchers are getting a more detailed understanding of what people ate thousands of years ago in what is now Peru. Dental plaque scraped from the teeth of people who lived as much as 9,200 years ago revealed traces of cultivated crops, including squash and beans, according to a report by the National Academy of Sciences. These ancient people also ate peanuts and a local fruit known as pacay. The findings also indicated that many empty Pizza Hut boxes were found among the remains. Erika: Well, I don't think I've ever experienced -27..actually, I'm not sure I've ever been out in +2 temps...what's the difference.. I continue to be really irritated that Ribs got off the operating table about 5 minutes ago and he's already running more miles than me. Timbo:

About fell asleep pool running tonight...

Hmmm...now THAT might have been a problem... Lou:

9.2 miles, 1:15, 8:10/mi, AHR 149

That is disgustingly good... Maine: Welcome back...some great runs...my grass needs cutting. Another cold morning here...4 miles in 35:09 (8:47)..pretty good for me considering that I had to walk a few times to catch my breath in last mile. Ave HR 147 Max 164. I have to learn some new stuff to maximize my use of this Garmin... DickyG

I don't really understand the humor in the cartoon that ran here locally in the newspaper. Can anyone help me understand? Bill

Sarge, you are going to get us both in trouble buddie Hey Bob, good to see ya back. I was going to call you a slacker, but after seeing all your runs, guess not. Wow, quite the morning for you Mary. After alllll of that, I'm surprised you still had the time to run 3 miles...WTG Hey anachrotech, I'll trade your 2 miles...for my none running miles . Yeah, 2 miles is still 2 miles. It will get easy soon, just hang in there. Nice run Peter as always. Don't you normally run in the morning? I love night time running myself. "Tim, you are cruisin' for a bruisin'! " Hey Ilene, todays was actually a slam against guys Hey dg, isn't it suppose to be... still feel carpy . Nice run'n for you too! Interval - strider's - whatever...good job. Holly, I do believe they make a waterproof mp3 player. I may check into that, as that may help with the stoopid boredom. Greta workout there girl....you are doing awesome, REALLY! Very nice to have ya back Teresa. How could anyone stop being a running partner with you Glad you are back running again...think you said you were lacking a little motivation, right? Mari, your run truly sounded heavenly....just like you . Nice run too! Be careful on your trip...our thoughts will be with you, OK! jdmom3 , so nice to see ya posting . 5 miles on the dreadmill is quite the feat...good job. (heck, a good run on a treadmill don't sound that bad to me, that I am injured and can't run ) Hey, where has Twokitty been. Hope everyone has a great afternoon...well, prolly still morning for some of you. TimBo

And I threw away the rest of the apple pie,

Ok....now I'm offended.

Tim - Thanks for the laugh this a.m. - the joke, the locker room mishap, the sleepy pool running. I need a good laugh! Breger - Quick read through - I don't understand the cartoon either. Had the pee waddlin' ole crappola scared out of me this a.m., one of the few times I didn't have my pepper spray with me. There I am, barely 5 minutes into my run, it's dark, I'm minding my own business. I look across the road to a house with its carport lights on, the door open, and this mutt dog is standing in the doorway looking into the house. Next thing I know, he's flying across the road toward me, growling and snarling the whole way! I'm yelling, "NO!" as loudly and firmly as I can, and the little %^*&#* keeps coming at me. He's at my ankles literally growling and snarling like he's gonna take a chunk out of me, and keeps moving left and right, and I'm trying to keep him in front of me while yelling, "NO!" His owners see what's happening, and instead of running across the street to help, they just start walking down the driveway, yelling for him - in Spanish. He finally listens to them and starts toward them. I yell, "You're lucky your dog didn't bite me," and start walking away (while checking my drawers to see if I messed them), and the frigging dog starts coming at me again!! Three times that dog came at me. The last two times not nearly as close, but holy guacamole! There's a lady I see often walking her two weiner dogs. On the way back, I took a detour around the house, saw her, and told her about him being out - just in case. I've never seen this dog before, and can only guess that he's usually inside or in the back yard. The Hub asked, "Why didn't you kick him?" I'm not sure, except it happened so fast, and I was afraid that if I missed or didn't kick him hard enough, he'd really attack. He wasn't a big dog and if he wasn't so frigging mean, he would've been cute. Anyway, my blood is still boiling (can you tell?). SO - leave at noon today to start down toward Ridgecrest. Got a phone call from my uncle who's giving my dad a VW bug. They live in Bakersfield and are suppose to be bringing it over to Ridgecrest. Turns out, we basically go right past their house. So why are they driving 2 hours over the Ridgecrest to deliver the VW? Beats me! My uncle didn't understand that one, either. Cripes! With all of this going on, my race, etc. (close your ears, men), I'm in the throes of actual MS-ing. No "P" about it. And I barely got any sleep between 2:30 and 5:30 this a.m. Ack! Midol, take me away!!! Oh - 3 miles, 28:37, 9:33 ap.

It's cold and snowing in Denver, and it took me over TWO HOURS to drive to work! No accidents, but people just drive really slow when it snows. Since I wussed out on running yesterday, I brought extra layers today, but I didn't bring my yaktrax, and it's slippery out. It's 15 degrees, feels like 4. So I'm wussing out again. I hope I'll have time to stop at the rec center on the way home. It may take two hours to get home, but by then I'll really need the run. Sorry for the rant. Holly, you wouldn't have to throw away pie at my house! I made two pumpkin pies on Thanksgiving, and they were gone in 4 days. I don't even like pumpkin pie, but my DH and DD love it. ( It really helps keep the temptation away to make pies that you don't like.)

Mary and Leslie, thanks for the advice about the bed, but I have no room for 2 beds that size! Frank's bed is big--he has 2, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. We are making little nesting spots in front of the heat registers (those ittle clementine boxes are cat-magnets). And Leslie, I hate it when dogs run loose. We always have Frank on a leash and just yesterday morning a dog decided to join us on the am walk. He wasn't scary, like the one you encountered, but he messed up our walk. He kept wanting to play and sniff, and Frank is 9 and just wanted to have his regular orderly old walk with his humans. I must have looked the Witch from the West as I kept staring him down and telling him "GO HOME!" The weight loss thread is a hoot. You are priceless, nono. I think Erma Bombeck is hanging out somewhere with you, thanks for making me laugh. Gym day for me. grins, A

6 miles at 9:35 pace in warmer damp this morning. Cold front is on its way, though, for my 5k Saturday morning.