Cindy - As always, I'm exhausted after reading your post. Don't know how you do it. Jewels - Did you get an appt w/the doc for your knee? Went to the Safeway in Arcata (about 15 min away) at lunch to stock up on these bagel rolls (don't know what else to call them) that I discovered there the other day. Only 3 left! Talked to the young gal who was restocking and she said they get them in each morning from Fortuna (about 20 min away) at 4:00 a.m. I think I see an early morning, pre-work run to Arcata tomorrow. I want to buy a boat load and throw 'em in the freezer. They are yum-mee and work quite nicely for my every morning coffee and bagel fix.

Last year's race had 35,000 runners!

Good grief! That's a medium size town! More marathons on your horizon - yea!! You gonna try and become a Marathon Maniac?? Am still not sleeping good at night, so I will do my bike ride tonight when I get home. Hopefully, I will feel good enough tomorrow to go out for a medium-paced walk. Was going to walk last night, but The Hub brought home a movie to watch, "The Changling." If you haven't seen that, it's very good. But it also pi$$ed me off the way that lady was treated. Absolutely unbelievable. I turn 43 on Monday, and so far The Hub hasn't mentioned a thing to me about it. You guys better hope for his sake he doesn't forget! Otherwise, you may be hearing from me from behind bars. Have a great weekend, friends ~

Leslie - Well, at least I'll be wishing you a happy 43, even if hub forgets, you young thang, you! Go out and flirt with some cutie-pie, you're still alive! Hope those bagel-whatevers speed your healing, and seriously, don't forget that you do need some calories to heal up. Cindy - oof...you're makin' me tired again. I cannot imagine being in the position of needing to kick some butt of adult offspring. Being a mom is forever. Joe - I think that mileage-wise I've caught up with a former version of you. Now you've raised that bar again! You jerk. Jewels - walking might work for you, yes? It's just about as good a workout as running, sure maybe fewer miles but it's the TIME ON FEET that counts. I run with someone who does half the miles per week that I do but keeps up with me, simply because she has an on-her-feet job. Jim - I used to live in the San Diego area, and sometimes still miss it (mostly the justifiably-famous zoo - I had an annual ticket and used to just hang out there, drinking a Foster's beer and looking at some of my favorites) ...but never did any running there, must be super-nice... BUT! we have had nearly San Diego-quality weather here in Fresno this week. I've been running under the shade of Sequoia trees with views of white-white-white snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains smacking my retinas. The almond trees are in bloom...and other living things are starting to GO: plums, cherries, "tulip" trees, so many bulbs...oh, and then there are the primordial hey-baby-let's-do-some-mating voices of meadowlarks by day, and frogs at night. Wow. ...When I went on a run this afternoon I felt all of this...this... spring...what is it? Urge..., and that runner's high came busting into my tissues...I guess that's what it is..what IS this???...made me think of the movie "The Highlander", where Sean Connery says "THIS...is the QUICKENING!!!" Remember to ENJOY your runs... Arla

Kewl Leslie! I'm glad you're feeling better HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (couple days early) you are 366 days younger than Doug, who will be celebrating w/a snowboard attached to his feet! We're going to Cooper Mtn in the am.... Niiiiice Arla!! thas what I'm talking about! The Quickening! - and ref the adult child, the best progress was made when I calmly told him that he was more than welcome to move out! Dad gave him the ultimatum of either packing or paying rent by end of month... I got to run in T-shirt & shorts yesterday....inside the Rec Ctr! While trying to visualize Jim's (current) views....or Jewel's...or Arla's....12* & icy/windy - but sunshiny - outside! (can you say, sub-zero wind chill!) which might be nice in a way, if I didn't have to be able to drop & run at a moment's notice due to being "on call!" My mind has taken up different antics to running in circles....you would think that it's the same view...., round & round the same 1/12 mile oval....for an hour or so...but actually, there are quite a few people, doing different things....the dialog w/my voices becomes, ummmm, odd! at times....there are two soft lanes, one marked "<walk>" one "<run>" (meaning both directions - depending on tfc flow! some people have difficulty deciding which way to go).....on the upper deck going around the core of the Rec Ctr. windows or open space overlooking a climbing wall, indoor tennis courts, the pools (family pool, lap pool, hot tubs), a racquetball court, gym (different activities, depending on the day/time) & a part of the weight machines rooms - then in the middle, class rooms that may have yoga, tai chi, taekwondo or pilates & a lge stretching/floor exercise area, which seems to be a tfc intersection for people traversing from one area to another, as well as an open area w/views below to the entrance to the bldg & "pro-shop" all of these can offer various different sources of entertainment....or just distraction Apparently, I'm also a source of distraction to others....maybe I don't wanna know! most runners seem to jump on for two-ten fastish laps & leave. I've not yet seen anybody stay up there - running or walking - as long as I do...one woman joined me for 3-4 laps (took out my ear buds & chatted a bit), where she told me that I'm running too much (she's been watching me)....I'll surely damage my knees!! but most don't talk to me at all....direct eye contact is rare...mostly by the silver haired gentlemen darting across the track enrt either the stationary bikes or the stretching area.... which I use, right before going down to do 7-8 laps in the pool.....nice way to kill a coupla hrs waiting for the phone to ring! Off today...baby showers & whatnot to do down in D town....snowed last night, but cleared so kinda bright out there! Gotta go take Mairead around the "block"...... Laters! Cindy</run></walk>

Jim; when do you land?

Jim; when do you land?

8:15 pm

Late Evenin', Everyone (11:00 p.m. here). Went to a really great dinner tonight - roasted eggplant soup, NY steak OM w/red wine reduction, smashed (like flattened out) red potatoes, and roasted carrots and brussel sprouts, and a bottle of red wine (I'm already paying for that decision ). And to end it all, homemade brownie w/homemade vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. I tell ya, I didn't eat all my dinner 'cause I wanted room for dessert, and I was still a fat pig when we left the restaurant. Holy guacamole! I haven't eaten that much food in a very long time. But boy howdy was it good! Then we came home and watched "Taking Chance" on HBO. If you get a chance to see this movie, I highly recommend it. It's the story of a Marine officer who volunteers to escort back home the body of a fallen soldier, Chance Phelps. It will touch you to the very core of your heart and soul, your being. Extremely touching, thought provoking, and heart wrenching all at the same time. Please, watch it. Have a good evening, folks -