I ran a nice 5.13 miles this evening over at the cemetary. It was hot at 86 degrees and sunny with thick humidity. You may have remembered me saying a few weeks ago that there were a bunch of crows in the cemetary and that I could see a nest way up in the top of this one tree. Well apparently other people have also noticed them because as I was running tonight I saw an orange bell shaped object with a black mouth piece laying in the grass. It has been there for several days but only tonight did I stop to pick it up. Printed on the side of it, it says Primos "Power Crow". When you blow into it, the sound is of a crow. It is really neat. With a little practise I was getting good at calling them. I ended up getting quite a "crow"d. Finally I have something to crow about with. I am glad someone left it there. Most likely they felt it was a" lost caws". I have determined that calling a crow is sort of like calling my ex wife.......after I have called them, what do I say?

Vista - I'm primarily a lurker with Henrun doing all the posting. You're post inspired me. I'm definitely a bop and only place when age-group allows - and the fast 60+ women don't show. Also, dealing with knee pain leaves me tired after running. Today when I was at the doc's he asked me if I would give up running - to which I replied never - I need it for my head. My run home after work was terrible - I was tired and hot, but several hours later am very glad I ran. We all have to find the time to run - and to listen to your words - they inspire us. Thanks, Marj

Oh, Vista, thank you so much for eloquent, inspiring words that I so needed to hear after a couple of carpy runs and at the beginning of what I knew would be an even worse morning at work. You helped me to remember to be proud of myself for what I AM doing in terms of running and other exercise after way too many years of full-time slug-hood. How appropriate that I logged my 300th mile of the year today! Six more than I ran in all of 2006, and 300 more than I ran in EVERY year before that. I may always be a turtle, but I'm a turtle on the move! erika - you may be a heat wimp, but you're tough as nails when it comes to braving the cold. fjord - Sorry about the loss of Mr. Spook, but glad he was able to leave on his terms. The orchard sounds lovely. I ran 3.5 miles today (shorter distance that originally planned), very slowly, in my new Nike singlet, carrying my groovy water bottle, and spent about 85% of the run in the shade. Felt much better than yesterday, thank you very much. Didn't have time to get the cool hat today, so wore the old, smelly visor. Hat-shopping is on the books for tomorrow afternoon. First time I've run 4 days in a row since about April. Feeling pretty good, but have declared tomorrow a non-running day. May do some strength training, and need to leave time to assemble all of my stuff for Thursday and Friday's camping trip with the 8th graders. Bug spray, sun screen, long pants to avoid poison ivy, calamine lotion in case I don't - yep, it's gonna be one fabulous trip. What was I thinking?!?!?! To me, "camping" means not getting chocolates on the pillow when I get back to the hotel! Eliz

Some great runs today. 12K with Topdown in the trails. He showed me where next Tuesday's trail race is. I am hoping I can use that as a tune up to my 5K race the following week. Burgers and Stella's after the run. What amazing folks Topdown and his wife are. They have been great to me and my girls. True friends. Take care everyone Tall

{{{Nonoruns}}} Hey, just be glad you've got running to help keep you sane. So many don't, and I really wonder how they cope. Running helps me with so many things, too, and it's amazing how many "issues" and problems I work out and think about on my runs. No wonder speed sort of gets away from me... half a mile into my run and my mind is somewhere else... Eliz, I would rather bundle up for the cold (well, to a point) than worry about heatstroke and dehydration! Like I say, you can always add more layers, but there's a limit to what you can take off! Tallrunner, a good friend like that is worth their weight in gold. You are a fortunate man to have topdown in your life. Got off work just a little early and headed out to the garden. Watered everything (at 70F and 35% humidity it's amazing how fast it dries out!!), and planted my broccoli and cauliflower seedlings. They're a bit too small, really, but with this weekend's trip to Anchorage, they've gotta get in the ground. Planned out the potato patch, and my water soaker hoses are two rows too short! So... do I just plant the other spuds and hand water all summer?? Or add the extra hose and loop it around a bit so things get a "lot" of water...? Prolly the second. I'm into turning on the hose and leaving it for hours... Beautiful night tonight... might take the dog for a walk. Boys have soccer all day again tomorrow and each has a game at 8, so I "might" run tomorrow morning. It'll be a short one... foot is on ice now as I type.