Five For the Count Down

Only five days until the big race. That means the foot needs to heal fast! Today I was to only walk the 3 miles and then the 4 miles. That is what I did. However, on the 4 mile part I hurried to get across a busy road and jerked my foot. That sent a searing pain up through the top of the foot. The rest of that trip was slightly painful, but I accomplished it. I came home to do situps. After supper we walked again through the quiet addition and added 1 1/2 miles to make that a total of 8 1/2 miles today. Tomorrow is another run/walk day. I don't look forward to that, but it is so necessary. I guess when we grow in any way (physically, spiritually or emotionally) we need to have some pain. As coaches always say: "This is the good pain." So as I hobble out of bed in the morning I will be thinking, "Yes, this is the good pain!"

Six Days and Counting

Six days from today we will be running the hills of Peachtree in Atlanta, GA. The weather will be approximately 70 degrees. The hills will be fairly steep and the people will be many! The training manual says to be sure and be well trained for this tough race. Well, we are not "well trained". I'm not even sure we are trained at all. However, this morning at 5:30 a.m. we were out on the street in front of our house training. Yes, we got three miles in even though we didn't run all of it. It is a start, alas, a late one, but a start non-the-less. My foot is feeling better. The stretching and taking it easy has helped, as Dr.Burton said it would. I put in 7 miles totally today along with sit ups and 20 minutes of weight training. Let's hope the weather holds out and let's us do enough training to finish that great race and get the coveted t-shirt.

Six Days and Counting

six days from today we will be running the hills of Peachtree in Atlanta, GA. The weather will be approximately 70 degrees. The hills will be fairly steep and the people will be many! The training manual says to be sure and be well trained for this tough race. Well, we are not "well trained". I'm not even sure we are trained at all. However, this morning at 5:30 a.m. we were out on the street in front of our house training. Yes, we got three miles in even though we didn't run all of it. It is a start, alas, a late one, but a start non-the-less. My foot is feeling better. The stretching and taking it easy has helped, as Dr.Burton said it would. I put in 7 miles totally today along with sit ups and 20 minutes of weight training. Let's hope the weather holds out and let's us do enough training to finish that great race and get the coveted t-shirt.

Real Joy

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile." -Sir Wilfred Grenfell

Today I am considering what is worthwhile. For me it is the time spent with someone I love, a faithful dog and a book that keeps my attention for hours. As I grow older I realize that the meaning of worthwhile has changed over the years. No longer is it the touch of youth, the money that could be earned or the possessions that fade away. Now worthwhile is time and how I use it. Hopefully, I have learned that a moment will never be back so I need to treat it as a sacred friend. It matters not what men say of me as long as I can stay true to myself and my God. How true it is that only when doing what is considered worthwhile will real joy come along. So, my friend and reader, may you find what is worthwhile in your life and receive true joy!

Memorial Day Reflections

Here it is the last day of May and also a holiday. This day brings all kinds of feelings, thoughts and view points. Many use it as a way to usher in the summer. Working in a town that thrives on the summer business, this is no small thing. The last of our yard work is finally in completion and now we sit back and watch nature take it's course, with some help from us. It is time to sit down and review what the summer will hold for me as I begin a new schedule. No more waking at the crack of dawn to do my exercise routine and then rushing off to school. Now I can sleep in at least half an hour more and still fit in all of it. There are books to be read, closets to clean and plans for a new school year to work out but all that will come in time. I first want to enjoy a few days of simply spending time with Murphy, sitting on my deck enjoying the warm sun and writing. Plenty of time for work and projects later. The ushering in of summer will be a pleasant thing for me! Let me hear your summer plans!

The New Cat in Town

As I sit at the computer the newest member of our small family dashes by with great energy. He is a year-old yellow tabby cat named Oliver Jackson. He is a cuddly thing. That is what we ordered. However, he is also young so there is not much that he won't try. He annoys his cat-brother, Nickey, with all kinds of ornery actions. Murphy thinks he is just another thing to be tolerated. All in all, he brings joy to the entire household. The energy he brings as well as the curiosity helps us see life in a new way. Perhaps Ollie will help us all grow into better humans and animals. Nickey is becoming braver. Murphy is learning to deal with another critter. We humans are learning that, yes, we can love another cat. Well, welcome, Oliver Jackson to a home of love!