Foot Notes*

...before the melt...

The arrival of Groundhog Day this week, plus the now-familiar forecast for more snow have not surprisingly brought back memories of the 1993 movie  Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  Evidently there’s still more to come. 

With a 90% chance of snow on Saturday and predictions of an accumulation to rival that received last December 19, I don’t know what else to say except… who am I kidding to even pretend that I’m going to be outside running this weekend? 

I have made a rather interesting discovery — listening to a podcast of This American Life or Radiolab seems to work  just as well as music does to give my mind something to do when I run.  That was a bit of a surprise.

…and I’m sorry that you’re not going to be able to get Sonny and Cher out of your head for the rest of the day.

Really.  I’m sorry.

Ellen Kephart

Ellen Kephart died in Herndon this week at the age of 94.

She was a wonderful woman and she was warm and welcoming to me when I first came here 22 years ago. She became a sort of substitute grandma for my two young children, since their own grandparents lived half a continent away and weren’t available for regular hugs.

I haven’t seen her for several years. She used to walk around downtown Herndon, going to the Post Office or the Great Harvest Bread Store, and occasionally she would stop into my gallery when it was located downtown. She’d been in a nursing home for a long time and I knew from inquiries made to her sister that she had gotten to the point where she didn’t know anyone anymore.

For years, I kept thinking that I should go visit her, but I never did — justifying my inaction by thinking “she wouldn’t know I was there.”

The problem I’m having this week is that.. I know I wasn’t there.

Weekend Runs

I think I’m going to pass on the sponsored runs this weekend. If Sunday is somewhat pleasant, I may start from Partlow Brother’s in Ashburn (if you haven’t had one of their BBQ sandwiches yet, you need to put it on your TO DO list), and run on the W & OD trail for a while.

If you want to join me, let me know.

I can do it myself!

I was glad to see that Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe the other night for her performance as Julia Child — I thought Julie and Julia was one of the most delightful movies I’ve seen in a very long time.

Because I enjoyed the movie so much, a few weeks ago, I watched a special on PBS that aired three of the classic episodes of The French Chef.  I watched dumbfounded as Julia Child made am omelet in 20 seconds.

All these years I’ve been doing it wrong (which is probably why I’ve always been so sorely disappointed by my omelets!)  After watching her make about 10 of them, I decided to give it a try myself and you know what?  My omelet flopped around just the way hers did, and it folded over on itself just like hers did, and after 20 seconds it was on the plate and it was tender and light and absolutely delicious. 

I’ve been looking forward to breakfast ever since.  I added some sauteed mushrooms first and that worked out well.  Then, I added some guacamole.  I’m sure I could easily move on to various cheeses.

What fun to discover something new to cook!

Yesterday I straightened up the shelf in my kitchen where I keep my cookbooks and I realized that I don’t have to accept life without mushroom soup just because Wegman’s doesn’t fix it for me anymore.  I opened my Williams Sonoma SOUP book and there it was — a recipe for Three Mushroom Soup with Sherry.

With Sherry!

It will be on my table tonight.  I’ll let you know…

Weekend Runs

Looks like it might be possible to thread the needle in between the wintry mix tomorrow and a 60% chance of showers on Sunday and do Greenberry’s on Saturday.

My son -- 1982

My son is 30 years old today, and I don’t know how that happened.

How did he manage to go from being this adorable little boy, peeking into the hospital nursery to get his first look at his baby sister, all the way to being a 6′4″ law enforcement officer who knows how to break down a door and clear a room — when I haven’t changed at all?!

My grandson -- 2010

Last weekend I baked some chocolate chip cookies with my grandson, and now looking at these two pictures, I’m having a serious bout with deja vu.  I have to realize that the next 30 years are going to zip by even faster than the last 30 did.

I want to be around (and able) to teach a great-grandchild or two how to lick a beater properly.

And that’s why I keep running.

Weekend Runs

How nice it was this week to get back outside for a couple of days.  Still a bit nippy, but at least without the wind it’s crossed over into the wimp-acceptable zone.  And by golly, the forecast for Saturday looks down right half-way almost  kinda pleasant (in comparison, of course). 

Sunday?  Not so much.

So I’ll be aiming for Saturday at Hamilton:

– for some kind of out and back modification.

I do not like it, not one little bit!

The sun it was shining, though the windchill was low.

The ice was not melting, wouldn’t you know.

But I put on my gloves and I put on my hat

And I laced up my shoes and said good-bye to the cat.

“I am no wimp!” I said, as I went out the door.

“I can do this today, I’ve done it before!”

I plugged in my iPod and selected some tunes

And charted my course, around the ice dunes.

“This isn’t so bad” I said as I ran.

“Are you out of your mind? I don’t think I can!”

My forehead was stinging, my cheeks were beet red.

My fingers were tingling. “I hate this!!!”  I said.

“You’ve got to keep going, it won’t be so long

Just another two miles — think of the song!”

“I want to go home, I don’t like it out here!

It’s cold and it’s windy and I can’t feel my ear!”

“OK, then, you wimp. Cut your running time short.”

“What a splendid idea,” I said with a snort.

Weekend runs

 Snow showers tonight, and on into tomorrow.

Not so great for the weekend, to my greatest sorrow.

Sunday’s no good, I’ve got plans for that day.

Though the weather looks better, I have to say.

Possibly Saturday, out at The Woods

Though I must admit, it’s not looking good.

%#*@**!!!

I know things change and time marches on, but why can’t there be a few more things you can depend on?

When I bought my first real running clothes, I didn’t know anything about it, other than it needed to wick the moisture away.  I found some inexpensive tops at Kohl’s and I bought three of them because the tag said they wicked moisture away.  I really liked them.  When I was ready to buy a few more of them, I went back and couldn’t find the same ones.  I figured it didn’t matter and I bought some different ones.  I didn’t like them as well.  I’ve bought several different ones over the last couple of years and I haven’t found any that I like better than those original ones. 

I bought some fitted running pants from Target the second winter I ran (can you believe I ran the first winter in jeans?!!  =:O ).  They are comfortable and they keep me warm and I like them waaaaay better than jeans.  I went back to get a few more and evidently they don’t make that same kind any more. 

Eddie Bauer changed the jeans that I love.  Wegman’s got me hooked on their three mushroom soup from the soup bar and then BOOM, it disappeared.   After nearly a year, I still don’t like my car as well as I loved the one I had before.

I’m also annoyed because once again, the forecast for the weekend looks less than acceptable for a wimpy runner like me.  I don’t like the word “wind” coupled with below freezing temperatures — two days after yet another coating of snow/ice.  I’ve ventured outside a couple of days to run in the last couple of weeks and have quickly retreated to the rec center in the face of a cold wind, or a thin SLICK layer of frost on the trail.  Not to mention actual precip. For me, running is about exercise – not about being miserable.

I suppose there’s a chance I’ll venture out on Saturday — but not much of one.

I sure hope the new year brings the traditional January thaw.

Happy New Year. 

Be Safe.

It was a very good year....

I was commenting to my daughter the other day that I needed to get my Christmas letter written.  She said she didn’t really get the whole thing about sending Christmas cards.  I gave her the stock reply that it’s how you keep in touch with people over the years.

She said, “That’s what Facebook is for.”

I didn’t have much of a snappy comeback.  I didn’t have any comeback at all, actually.

So, since I’m not on Facebook, I used the weekend to get my Christmas letter written.  When I do this, I always take a look at the ones I wrote in  previous  years to kind of get ideas for where I’m going to go with it for the current year. 

In 2007, I commented that on the morning of my 55th birthday I had run 2 miles.  I was pretty proud of that.

I can do four miles now without too much trouble.  One morning last fall I did six.

I’m going in the right direction.  That’s what’s important to me.

Weekend runs

I’m not so sure I’m going to be in the mood to run outside yet.  I’m thinking there’s still going to be a lot of ice and snow to contend with. 

I was running this morning at the  Claude Moore Recreation Center  and it occurred to me that maybe there might be interest in running there either Saturday or Sunday and then going out for breakfast after.  They’ve got a locker room so we could shower and change before we left.  If you just can’t stomach the idea of running on the track, there is a large lap pool, as well as a recreational pool and of course the usual gym equipment. 

If you live in Loudoun Country, it will cost you $5.50.  If you’re a senior (over 55), it’s just $3.75.  (Bring ID to prove residency.)  

They open at 8 am both mornings.  (Cool thing is, no one is going to leave without you if you’re late!)

You’ll need to bring a lock for the locker, and a towel if you plan to shower/change afterwards.

I think that’s where I’ll be Sunday.  Anyone care to join me?

Christmas pillows for Nathan and Sarah

I’m happy to report that the Christmas Pillows for my twin grandchildren are officially finished.  (Whew, glad that’s done!)

I measured twice before I cut the fabric down to “pillow size” and then discovered that if you measure from the wrong place, you’ll cut in the wrong place.  Consequently, Nathan’s horse is about an inch off center.    Oh well…  these things happen.

In running news, unfortunately I’ve been forced (by my own wimpiness) to do most of my running for the last couple of weeks on the track at the rec center.  I’ve found a few more positives to the experience:

1. I’m starting to recognize “the regulars” and the smiling and nodding has begun.  (Perhaps I’ll invite them to join the LRR one of these days.)
2. Every now and then I can sprint for a bit and pass someone.  That’s kind of cool for me.
3. I’ve found another song on my iPod that forces me ever onward — Paul McCartney, Dance Tonight.

I did my thing for about 40 minutes this morning, and then finished up with Dance Tonight and End of the Line, counting the laps so I’d have an accurate report.  It came to 8 1/2.  (A mile on that track is 14 laps and change.)

Weekend Runs

I’m looking at the 7-day and it’s not looking pretty for Saturday again. 

I’m going to aim for Sunday from the high school for an “out and back” on the W & OD:

http://loudounroadrunners.org/lrr/run_maps/Thomas_Mill.pdf

 – unless there is snow or wind or rain or slush from the snow on Saturday –

"At the end of the line...."

Yeah, I know some people ran outside this weekend, but I wasn’t one of them. 

I don’t mind a mild little dusting coming down, or even a light mist, but I don’t do 2-inch-an-hour accumulations or slush.  Just don’t.

I was pretty much holed up inside all weekend and I still didn’t like my chances on the W & OD this morning, so I went to the Claude Moore Recreation Center this morning and ran on their indoor track.  It’s pretty boring, but it’s flat and it’s climate controlled, and there’s a water fountain right there whenever I come around to that side.  It works for me as a Plan B when “outside” isn’t an option. And boy does it beat a treadmill!

Since I started with some confessions last week, I thought I’d continue with that theme this week and put a big one out there, and  I hope I’m not drummed out of the club for saying it:

I don’t like running. 

Let me explain.  I like to run because I think it is a pretty efficient form of exercise and it’s nice to be outside (except when it’s not, of course), but while I’m running, I don’t really like it.  I wish I could breathe more comfortably (maybe that will come in time),  I don’t like when my glasses get fogged up or slip around, and I wish the sweat didn’t drip down into my eyes so much (which is why I don’t wear my contacts when I run).  

I do feel really, really good when I STOP running however – which is probably the biggest reason why I keep doing it. 

I don’t think I could run by myself without my iPod.  I need “somewhere to go” in my head so I’m not entirely focused on how much further I have to go. 

I’ve got several songs on my iPod that have a relentless beat that works extremely well with my stride and when those selections come on, I can feel my arms and legs moving together in a way that makes me appreciate the fact that my body is basically a machine.  I do enjoy that feeling and it makes it much easier to keep going just a little longer.

This morning I enjoyed finding another one, newly downloaded — The Traveling Wilbury’s, End of the Line.

Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze.
Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please.
Well it’s all right, doing the best you can.
Well it’s all right, as long as you lend a hand

What a great beat. I probably got another three laps around the track with that this morning.  I can hear it in my head right now (where it will probably stay for the rest of the day!). 

Almost makes me want to go outside and run right now.

Almost.

Weekend runs

I’ve got an all-day commitment on Saturday, so I’m looking at Sunday once again.  Tammy suggested we do the Purcellville to Leesburg run and maybe do Purcellville to Paeonian Springs for 5 miles.    Sounds good to me if anyone else is up for it. 

Meet at Market Station Sunday morning and we’ll see what the carpool situation looks like.

But I might need one of those bags one day...

Hoarders  opened a new season Monday on A & E, and my hand is up to confess that it is “cannot look away TV” for me.  My completely non-professional opinion about these people is that they can be divided into two categories — the ones who live in garbage, and the ones who form emotional attachments to things and are unable to throw anything away — thus…  living in garbage.  It’s people in this latter category that I find most interesting, possibly because I can relate to them on some level.  One guy couldn’t throw junk mail away because it had his dead mother’s name on it, and he felt that if he threw the junk mail away, he was disrepecting his mother. 

I’m certainly able to throw junk mail away, but I have to say I’m not sure how long I have to keep the papers my insurance company sends me every now and then to let me know what kind of coverage I have. 

I’m pretty sure I can shred my cable bill as soon as I’ve paid it, but how long should I keep my bank statements?  Yes, I know about the IRS recommendations and all that, but what I don’t know is how you organize your life so that you can then go back and FIND the bank statements from X years ago and dispose of them neatly once the timer goes off on X years having passed.

I went through the closet in my second bedroom last spring and found a box with old Christmas cards in it.  Some went back almost twenty years, and since we’re being honest here, I have to admit quite a few of them were from people that I couldn’t remember any more.  Somewhere between “Oh look, John and Mary sent a Christmas card!” and “Who on earth are John and Mary?” it is appropriate to trash these cards — but can you tell me exactly where that line is?

I didn’t think so.

From time to time I go through the cupboards under my bathroom sink and I don’t know how many of the Clinique bags I should reasonably keep.  They’re handy little things, but do I need ten of them?  Probably not.  Having then decided I don’t need ten of them, how do I decide which ones stay and which ones go?  What about the little shampoo and lotion bottles picked up from hotel stays?  After all, they do come in handy when filling up the little plastic bags to take through airport security these days.

Trash — not trash.  It’s not always a clear decision.

Weekend runs

If the weather forecast holds and there is “rain and snow” on Saturday, it will be a clear decision (for me at least) about not running. 

My best bet this weekend is for Sunday –  The Woods.  Since it is an “out and back” run, it can be whatever length is appropriate to the mood.  Let’s hope it isn’t slushy and nasty from the “rain and snow” on Saturday.

http://loudounroadrunners.org/maps/woods.pdf