You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.-----Robin Williams

Today's must listen!

                                                (YouTube video)


        Taps

Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.

Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, 'neath the stars', 'neath the sky'
As we go, this we know
God is nigh.

      lyrics by Horace Lorenzo Trim

May the world one day know peace.

Repost--

"There are things you can’t reach. But You can reach out to them, and all day long. The wind, the bird flying away. The idea of god. And it can keep you busy as anything else, and happier. I look; morning to night I am never done with looking. Looking I mean not just standing around, but standing around As though with your arms open.” ~ Mary Oliver

For Jason and Kuldeep as Sydney completes 8th grade

     This song is so lovely, but bittersweet. Enjoy.
     I'm proud of you Syd.

     This makes me think back on the childhoods of all three of my kids, and my life.

Does this remind you of anyone?

    Q. Why do fluorescent lights hum?
     A. Because they can't remember the words.


     Q.  What is the difference between God and an electrician?
     A.  God doesn't think he's an electrician.


     Q.  How many border collies does it take to change a light bulb?
     A.  Two.  One to change the light bulb while the other is busy re-wiring the house.


   

Set point theory and how to beat it....

     I thought this was an excellent article on long-term weight loss.

http://greatist.com/live/best-way-to-lose-weight-for-good?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_content=story1_cta&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter_2016-05-24_mails_daily_new_header

Do it now

.. Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed. Arthur Schopenhauer

     I should be pretty speedy by now!  What happened? HaHaHa!

     FYI
     Yesterday when volunteering, there was a bike ranger helping out at our water stop which was the turnaround for the 10k.  She monitors bikers and their speed and their caution on mixed use trails in Littleton.  Did you know they sometimes use radar to monitor bikers' speeds?  And they do issue tickets. Colorado has a lot of bikers, and you often see huge groups of them (pelotons) tearing down the road or trail.  It causes lots of problems with pedestrians (who do have the right of way) and pets.

Thought for the weekend...

     I'm up super early again today.  I am volunteering at the Airlife Memorial run manning a water stop.  Last year it was cold and pouring rain.  This year it should be sunny and hot.  Maybe I can tour the helicopter and emergency equipment afterwards. I've got my cowbell at the ready to cheer on all the runners.
     A friend is one of the flight nurses.

America's fittest cities 2016

     Woo-hoo!  Denver is number 3,  Chicago is number 12, Austin is tied for number 15.

     Here is a link to the full report.
http://americanfitnessindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/acsm_afireport_2016_FINAL.pdf

Summer is finally here. Yay sunshine!

 


  There are so many life truths listed in this twenty years/twenty lessons article.  I loved #7, "Savor the mile you're in."  Also, # 20!

http://www.runnersworld.com/advice/twenty-years-twenty-lessons

"Q, What do you call an impatient runner?......A,  Injured."

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Interesting!  An article published in Smithsonian Magazine theorizes that Neanderthals may have died out because they ate a Paleo meat-heavy diet.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/did-neanderthals-die-out-because-paleo-diet-180959066/?no-ist

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

     Doesn't this photo just call out to you to head out of doors in the sunshine today?

Thought for the day....

     What a sad commentary on the circle of life.

It is race day

  and I am under-trained.
   

(Up at 1:30 am, walked dog at 2 am, meeting friend at 3 to carpool to race at City Park. There is little parking available.  Hope to snooze a bit in the car once there.  Must arrive by 445, race starts at 6.  Why do I do this again? At least there are thousands and thousands of other crazies to keep us company, which is somewhat reassuring)

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     UPDATE
     Tough race, per my GPS 26.47 miles with 1232 feet elevation gain.  Those hills going west really added up.  It was a nice course....we ran along the Cherry Creek path coming and going,  ran around a huge lake, ran through the Bronco's stadium coming and going (the field doesn't seem so big when you are down next to it), ran through a firehouse and high 5'd all the firemen, and of course did a lot of miles running on Colfax Avenue....thus the name of the race. There was great food afterwards plus I love a free beer after a run. And the rain didn't show!
     My times weren't what I would have hoped but I finished well before the 6 hour cut-off.  I may do this again.
     Meanwhile, I am sore.
     (PS, I got 71,000 steps on my step-counter today.  New record. And I felt no guilt for eating ALL the things.)

Congratulations #12459 DEBORAH JOHNSON!
Here are your results for the Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon:

Your final time is 05:52:31 at a 00:13:27 pace.
You finished 1218 out of 1272 in the MARATHON.
You finished 8 out of 9 in your class F60-69.

Wheeeee!!!!!

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” – Mark Twain

     This is good to remember in this political season.

Note to self

     Some days (many) you just need to give yourself a good kick in the pants.

One of my favorite songs....

A song by Coldplay sung by Young@Heart

http://www.thisblewmymind.com/80-year-old-mans-rendition-coldplays-fix-brings-audience-tears/

Thank you

                                  shared from Hippie Peace Freaks

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It's good to be alive right about now

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom!

Fireflies

Quote for the weekend

  

shared from Hippie Peace Freaks

Take responsibility for your health

     Medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death, above stroke and Alzheimer's disease.  It was interesting to hear Bernie Sanders trying to get the word out earlier this week.

http://sportsgeezer.com/2016/medical-errors-are-third-leading-cause-of-death/

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/05/medical-errors/481242/?utm_source=SFTwitter

Our fragile free press

     I am sharing a link from Marion Nestle's "Food Politics" blog in which she discusses the firing of a long-time Farm News cartoonist.  Big industry does control what does and does not get printed in America.

http://www.foodpolitics.com/2016/05/big-ag-forces-firing-of-long-time-farm-news-cartoonist/

A smile for today....and May the 4th be with you.

Everyone pees, everyone poops.

It's Monday and we have sunshine at long last.

A much nicer day than yesterday!  Spring at last.

     I am trying to run at least 2016 miles in 2016.  I am part of a FaceBook group.  One solo runner just completed running his 2016 miles already.....That is almost 17 miles every single day, or 504 miles per month.  "Inconceivable!" (Sorry, I watched the Princess Bride on Netflix yesterday).

Sharing Collette's Facebook post from this morning. I don't think she'd mind.

I can't even begin to tell you how loved I felt last night!!! One big, free virtual hug to all of you!!! While I don't want to focus on who wasn't there, there were 2 incredible men, who magically I felt all night, but, physically weren't there.Steve Parks, "Bucket" and Dean Johnson, I love you both!!!! You have changed the way I live life everyday!!!!

     Can you understand why we all love Collette and will miss her and her free hugs so much?

Day 4 of continuing snow....

     It is May 1st and still snowing!  My friends running a trail race yesterday dropped out after running half of a 50K.  The snow was 2 feet deep in places. They couldn't tell where to run as the footprints of the runners in front of them filled in quickly.  Once they lost feeling in fingers and toes they stopped.  To give the race credit, they gave finishers medals to all those brave souls who attempted the race.
     As for me....I went to a farewell party for my friend Collette who is moving to Ohio.  We will all miss her tons. I may have to visit Cincinnati someday.

It is pretty out today!