run on sentences

Last year,  there was a mishap with one of my favorite Christmas decorations.  It involved the demise of Mr. Clause who belonged to a set of a kissing Mr. and Mrs. Clause, sitting on a park bench (sort of reminds you of that Jethro Tull song, doesn't it?  'sitting on a Park Bench....eyeing little girls with bad intent'). I bought them years ago from a catalog called Current which sold cutesy stuff like this and note cards, wrapping paper, and other things mostly that I did not need and most of which are no longer needed by anyone. I don't recall exactly what happened to Mr. Clause but I remember feeling badly when I put decorations away on the day after New Years' day, which is my usual putting things away day after Christmas.  Maybe Mr. Clause decided to end it all, or she, tired of kissing him, pushed him off the bench and into the kitchen sink.  They usually sat in the kitchen window.   Poor Mrs. Santa would have to sit by herself for an entire year with no on

I got up at 5:10.  Bruce went off to work shortly after that.  I left my house at 5:45 to  run with my friend Becky.  There was a full moon but no snow so it seemed really dark.  The smoggy air also has something to do with dimming the moonlight.  We are running well lately, Becky and I, but we both were watchful for potholes or uneven parts in the road - or uneven parts in our self for that matter.  She will, in a few weeks, be the same age as I am.   We share the diseases of asthma and heartburn and also being too nice to people who don't always deserve it.   Considering all the diseases there are, these aren't bad ones.   Our route is usually the same each morning only the scenery changes with the changes in seasons.  We never get tired of this route and often we see things that we may have not noticed in the past ten years or so we have been running together.  Our conversation is easy and usually positive for so early in the am.  Becky has to go to work but I, being a r

“ Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am.” -Thomas Merton Yeah that comment may have nothing to do with this post but I liked it. And I started a blog post a few weeks ago using it but it didn't go anywhere. However I could not let go of the quote. I think I was going to write something about how we spend the first half of our lives trying to get over who we are and be someone else that we think we should be. Then we spend the second part of our lives accepting, finally, who we are. I have been thinking about that a lot lately and how once I thought I should get fake fingernails because I was going to give my first talk at a national conference. I didn't after all. Get the fake fingernails, I mean. I gave the talk and it was successful, even with my own stubby nails. Yesterday was my birthday. It was a great day but I was cranky. I missed the call from my mom where she would sing happy birthday on my answe

It's been a little over a week since my 18th St. George Marathon and 35th marathon overall. My quads are finally settling down from the normal aches they felt after what some might consider torture - 26.2 miles of up and down in the desert of Southern Utah - the beautiful desert I might add. I am losing a little of the afterglow one gets from post marathon endorphins but with that, comes plans on how I can improve my performance...not necessarily the finishing time, but my preparation. My quads have voted on some strength training and I have to say I agree with them. They called me a lot of names the last 6 miles - and after all I have done for them.   This marathon was a solo experience despite the thousands of people I ran alongside. My good running buddy Suzanne tore a muscle and was sad not to be there...but she was in spirit, I am sure. Other running friends had commitments or other marathons to complete. Some had to give up marathon running altogether an inevitable o

Officially, the Bird in Hand 1/2 marathon was held on September 8th.  I was registered to run with Kseniya but because my friend Enid died, I cancelled my trip.   Kseniya and her friend actually ran the race, through scenic Amish country in humid, rural hilly Pennsylvania.  This is what the route looked like on the official race day.  You gotta give the Amish women and men credit for running in dresses and long pants. Another view of race day - they did have cloud cover but it was very humid Kseniya at the end of the race - looking beautiful and not at all tired When I visited her in PA last week, Kseniya asked me if I wanted to run the route of this 1/2 marathon.  This sounded like a good idea even though it meant driving about an hour to Bird in Hand.  She had written down the route and we decided to go for it.    We didn't get started till about 1230 and it was a warm day with little cloud cover - but not as warm and humid as the original race day.   I am usually

--> My friend Enid died on September 1.  She really didn't want to I don't think.  Before she died, she asked me to speak at her funeral.  It was an honor to remember my good friend.   My comments are below. My friend Enid, holding Desmond a few years ago.  I have very few pictures of her - she didn't like getting her picture taken A few weeks ago I was visiting my friend Enid. She had cancer and knew her days were numbered and she was writing her obituary – the one you probably read. While she didn't tell me this is what she was doing, I figured it out because she had a newspaper open to the obit page and was busy with a yellow legal pad, which she quickly put away when I came into her room. Yes, she knew she was dying but didn't dwell on it while I was there...just tried to be positive, asking me about my grandson and what I had been doing.  Just a few months ago when I looked out my window I would see her in her yard, caring for her fl

I was all set for a 20 miler with my friend Suzanne.  I left my house in the near dawn hours - 620 AM - to meet Suzanne at our usual place.  I felt pretty good since I remembered to load up on ibuprofen the night before.  Before leaving,  I had my granola bar and coffee and took care of potty business.  My bottle was filled with Gatorade and I had a bag full of jelly beans.   I was in it for the long haul...at least I thought so. I passed a few other people out there and met up with Suzanne.  She had been having some achilles problems and had on her black compression socks.  She looked doubtful but was ready to give it a try - going slow...which for her is going at my pace.  We started out and the next thing I know, I was heading for the ground - my only thought was "boom" which is what my grandson Desmond says any time something or someone falls, has fallen or is about to. Me and sweet little Des.  I sure miss him - he added so much joy to our lives this summer  My ri

The sprinkler at my neighbor's house across the street seems angry as it jerks across her front yard, spraying her grass, the sidewalk and the neighbor's trees.  Just a month or so ago, when I looked out my window, she was out there, weeding her flowers or planting tomatoes.  I was always comforted by the sight of her at 86, caring for her yard and talking to neighbors who might walk by.   She and I became good friends several years ago and I visited her and her husband every Saturday.  He died about 5 years ago at 99.  After that, she and I would go out for breakfast once/week at least - or lunch.   Then we would wander around T.J. Maxx usually not buying anything.  She is a good friend and her age doesn't matter to me.  She comforts me when I need it and we talk about all sorts of things.  I like her stories about growing up in Salt Lake.   She voted for Obama and wished that she had tried pot in her younger days.  She used to sing in a band with her husband who played a